XADM: Internet Mail Service Does Not Handle Uudecode Correctly

• Microsoft Exchange Server version 5.0

SYMPTOMS

When a message is received by Microsoft Exchange Server version 5.0 from Softswitch, the Microsoft Exchange Internet Mail Service will deliver the message correctly. However, when a Microsoft Exchange Client opens the message, the following error message will be displayed:

   The Microsoft Exchange Server received an Internet message that could
   not be processed. To view the original message content, open the
   attached message.
   <Message.txt>

CAUSE

The uuencode algorithm starts each line with a character to signify how many characters of that line are to be decoded. Here is an example:

   begin 660 test.txt
   %=&5S= H XXXX
   end

1. Subtracts 0x20, leaving 0x05.

to get 8, the number of characters to decode in the line. The line displayed above has 12 characters (plus the length character). Uudecode should not have a problem with this as it should stop decoding that line at column 13.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Exchange Server, version 5.0. A supported fix is now available, but has not been fully regression-tested and should be applied only to systems experiencing this specific problem. Unless you are severely impacted by this specific problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Service Pack that contains this fix. Contact Microsoft Technical Support for more information.