TLS-RPT Record setup guide

Email security is more important than ever. Cyber threats, email interception, and delivery failures can put your sensitive information at risk. That’s where TLS-RPT (Transport Layer Security Reporting) comes in. It helps your business keep email communication secure and reliable.

What is TLS-RPT?

TLS-RPT is a system that monitors and reports issues with email encryption. When you send an email, it needs to be encrypted.

However, sometimes, encryption fails due to misconfigurations or weak security settings. Instead of ignoring it, this TLS-RPT generates a report and sends it to the email administrator.

This way, your business can fix security gaps quickly and make sure that emails are always delivered securely.

TLS-RPT reduces security risks, improves email reliability, and strengthens trust between senders and recipients. When you use it with other security protocols like MTA-STS, it adds an extra layer of protection.

This makes sure that your emails stay private and protected from cyber threats.

How TLS-RPT Doubles Security?

TLS encryption checks that emails can’t be read or hacked during transmission. As misconfigurations or outdated security settings can weaken encryption, it’s essential to make emails secure. TLS-RPT plays a major role by:

-  Detects Encryption failures before they lead to security risks -  Provides real-time reports to help fix issues quickly -  Ensures compliance with best security practices -  Builds trust in email communication by preventing unauthorized access

TLS-RPT works by automatically generating reports whenever an email server fails to establish a secure (TLS) connection. Here’s how the process unfolds:

1. DNS Setup: The domain owner adds a TLS-RPT record in DNS, which specifies where to send failure reports.

2. Email Transmission:  When an email is sent, the receiving server checks if TLS encryption is properly applied.

3. Failure Detection: If encryption fails (e.g., expired certificates, misconfigurations), the receiver server logs the issue.

4. Report Generation: A JSON report is sent to the email address in the TLS-RPT record, which helps admins fix security problems.

   

Why is TLS-RPT Important?

TLS-RPT actively enhances email security and performance. How it benefits businesses:

• Detects Real-Time Issue 

Instantly identifies encryption failures before they cause delivery issues. Provides detailed insights into misconfigurations and security risks.

•  Improves Email Deliverability

Ensures emails reach their destination securely. Helps businesses create a strong email reputation and reduces spam filtering risks.

• Enhances Security Against MITM Attacks

PTLS-RPT prevents Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attack.,where hackers intercept emails. It strengthens encryption policies used with MTA-STS and sprotectsdata privacy.

How MTA-STS and TLS-RPT Work Together

MTA-STS (Mail Transfer Agent Strict Transport Security) and TLS-RPT are exceptional partners that enhance email security.

MTA-STS checks on encryption and ensures that emails are only delivered over secure TLS connections. It makes sure to prevent downgrade attacks where attackers force emails to be sent without encryption. 

On the other hand, TLS-RPT works with your monitoring system. It provides real-time reports on encryption failures. If an email fails to send securely due to misconfigurations or unsupported TLS settings, TLS-RPT alerts administrators so they can fix the issue. 

When these are paired up, they create a secure and self-correcting email system.

What Are the Different Types of Failure in TLS-RPT?

When TLS encryption fails, it can happen for several reasons. TLS-RPT divides these failures into different types:

• STARTTLS Not Supported

The receiving email server does not support STARTTLS, which means encryption cannot be established. This leads to sending emails in plain text. It makes them vulnerable to interception.

• Certificate Issues

If the recipient's server has an invalid, expired, or mismatched TLS certificate, the email cannot be securely delivered.

• Policy Enforcement Failure (MTA-STS Conflict)

If MTA-STS is enabled, but the receiver server does not meet its security requirements, the email is rejected right away. This happens when a server does not support TLS 1.2 or higher or does not match the expected configuration.

• DNS Misconfiguration

If the MTA-STS or TLS-RPT DNS records are missing, incorrect, or improperly configured, email servers may not be able to verify encryption settings. This can cause email delivery failures or fallback to less secure transmission.

• Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) Attack Detection

If an attacker intercepts and alters the connection between email servers, it can trigger a TLS failure. This is a critical security threat that needs immediate action.

Each of these failures weakens email security, but with TLS-RPT reports, administrators can quickly detect and resolve these issues.

What Is the Format of the TLS Report?

A TLS-RPT report is sent in JSON format and provides detailed information about encryption failures. It follows a structured layout to help administrators quickly diagnose and resolve issues.

Key Components of a TLS Report are:

Report Metadata: Includes the organization name, date range, and contact info.

Policy Details: Shows the domain and security policy in use.

Failure Summary: Lists the number of failed emails and reasons for failure.

Affected Servers: Identifies the recipient mail servers where encryption failed.

Example TLS-RPT JSON Report:

json

CopyEdit

{

  "organization-name": "ExampleCorp",

  "date-range": {

    "start": "2024-03-01T00:00:00Z",

    "end": "2024-03-01T23:59:59Z"

  },

  "contact-info": "security@example.com",

  "policy": {

    "policy-type": "enforce",

    "policy-domain": "example.com"

  },

  "failure-details": [

    {

      "total-failures": 5,

      "failed-server": "mail.recipient.com",

      "failure-reasons": [

        {

          "reason-type": "certificate-expired",

          "additional-info": "The recipient’s TLS certificate expired on 2024-02-28"

        }

      ]

    }

  ]

}

What Are Some Common Issues?

Even with proper setup, TLS-RPT can come up with issues that affect reporting and email security.  Below are the most common problems and how to fix them.

Incorrect DNS Record: Ensure the TLS-RPT TXT record is added correctly to your domain’s DNS.

Missing or Invalid Email Address: The "rua" (reporting address) must be a valid email that can receive reports.

MTA-STS Policy Conflicts: If MTA-STS is in "enforce" mode but is not supported by recipient servers, emails may fail.

Incomplete or Overloaded Reports: Some email providers delay reports, or they may be blocked by spam filters. While other mail servers only send partial failure reports.  

FAQs

What Does a TLS-RPT Record Look Like?

A TLS-RPT record is a TXT record added to your domain’s DNS settings. It tells mail servers where to send failure reports if encrypted email delivery encounters issues.

How Often Are Reports Generated?

TLS-RPT reports are usually generated daily, it depends on the email providers and servers involved. Some providers may send reports multiple times a day if they detect recurring encryption failures.

Can I Use TLS-RPT Without MTA-STS?

Yes, TLS-RPT can function without MTA-STS, but it’s not as effective.

• Without MTA-STS, TLS-RPT can only report on failed encryption attempts, but it won’t enforce strict security policies.

• With MTA-STS, TLS failures are both reported and prevented, ensuring stronger email security.

Conclusion

TLS-RPT helps businesses detect and fix encryption issues before they become security risks. Cyber threats are upgrading every day, and organizations can’t afford to send sensitive emails over unsecured connections.