Title

Maximum outbound connection timeout limit is not at 10 minutes or less. (Cat III impact)

Discussion

E-mail system availability depends in part on best practices strategies for setting tuning configurations. This configuration controls the number of idle minutes before the connection is dropped. It works in conjunction with the Maximum Outbound Connections Count setting. Connections, once established, may incur delays in message transfer. The default of 10 minutes is a reasonable window in which to resume activities without maintaining idle connections for excessive intervals. If the timeout period is too long, idle connections may be maintained for unnecessarily long time periods, preventing new connections from being established. Sluggish connectivity increases the risk of lost data. A value of 10 or less is optimal.

Check Content

Access the mail server outbound connection timeout configuration. Exchange System Manager >> Administrative Groups >> [administrative group] >> Servers >> [Server] >> Protocols >> SMTP >> [specific SMTP server] >> properties >> Delivery tab >> outbound connections button. Ensure that the “Outbound Connections Timeout” value is = 10 or less. Criteria: If outbound connections timeout limit is at 10 or less, this is not a finding.

Fix Text

Procedure: Set the outbound connection timeout limit. Exchange System Manager >> Administrative Groups >> [administrative group] >> Servers >> [Server] >> Protocols >> SMTP >> [specific SMTP server] >> properties >> Delivery tab >> Outbound Connections button. Enter Outbound Connections Timeout value = 10 or less.

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-20320r1_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-18690

Group Title:

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

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