EC
214
SMTPINFOCriticalSystem InformationHIGH confidence

Help message

What this means

The 214 code is used to provide a detailed help message, often with a URL for more information. A server returns this in response to a `HELP` command when it has more detailed guidance for the user.

Why it happens
  1. 1The client sent the `HELP` command.
  2. 2The server is configured with a specific help file or URL to assist users.
How to reproduce

An administrator telnets to the mail server and issues the `HELP` command to find documentation.

trigger — this will error
trigger — this will error
HELP
214 For more information, please visit http://www.example.com/smtp-help

expected output

214 Help message

Fix

Use EHLO instead of HELP for machine-readable capability discovery

WHEN When detecting server capabilities programmatically

Use EHLO instead of HELP for machine-readable capability discovery
EHLO yourdomain.com
250-SIZE 52428800
250-STARTTLS
250-AUTH LOGIN PLAIN
250 OK

Why this works

EHLO returns structured extension keywords. 214 returns human-readable text whose format is not standardised.

What not to do

✕ Parse 214 Help responses for automated capability detection

The content is unstructured prose. EHLO extension keywords are the correct machine-readable mechanism.

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