added dovecot imap proxy

This commit is contained in:
2026-08-21 12:33:36 +02:00
parent 6c6cfb5e12
commit 9d5c243f7d
5 changed files with 98 additions and 1 deletions

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.gitignore vendored Normal file
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.env
data
docker-compose.override.yml

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# imap-proxy
# Dovecot IMAP Proxy
Dovecot deployment acting as a pure IMAP proxy: it listens on your hostname (e.g. `imap.example.com`) with its own SSL certificate, accepts and terminates the client connections (implicit TLS on 993, STARTTLS on 143), then connects to the destination server (e.g. `imap.example.net`) as if it were the client, over the destination's own SSL, and forwards the traffic bit-by-bit in both directions.
## How it works
Dovecot's login proxy is used with a `static` passdb: any username is accepted, no password is verified locally (`nopassword`), and the login is forwarded (credentials included) to the destination host, which performs the real authentication. Once the remote login succeeds, dovecot becomes a dumb pipe between client and destination. No mail is ever stored locally.
Because the password must be forwarded, clients have to use cleartext mechanisms (`PLAIN` / `LOGIN`); dovecot only allows them after TLS is negotiated, so nothing travels unencrypted.
## Configuration
Copy `example.env` to `.env` and adjust:
- `SSL_CERT` / `SSL_KEY`: certificate and key for the hostname the proxy serves (e.g. Let's Encrypt live paths).
- `IMAP_EXPOSE` / `IMAPS_EXPOSE`: host bindings for ports 143/993.
Copy `example.dovecot.conf` to `${DOVECOT_CONF}` (default `./data/dovecot.conf`) and set `host` in the `passdb static` block to your destination server. The destination certificate is verified against the system CA bundle (`ssl_client_ca_file`); use `ssl = any-cert` instead of `ssl = yes` if the destination has a self-signed certificate.
## Usage
```sh
cp example.env .env
mkdir -p data && cp example.dovecot.conf data/dovecot.conf
$EDITOR .env data/dovecot.conf
docker compose up -d
```
## Testing
```sh
openssl s_client -connect imap.example.com:993 -quiet
# then login as an existing user on the destination server:
a LOGIN user@example.com password
b LIST "" "*"
```
## Notes
The `-root` image flavor is used so dovecot can read certificates that are only readable by root (as the Let's Encrypt live folder is); dovecot itself still drops privileges per-service. If your certificates are world-readable you can drop the `-root` suffix from `DOVECOT_VERSION`.

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docker-compose.yml Normal file
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---
services:
dovecot:
image: dovecot/dovecot:${DOVECOT_VERSION}
restart: unless-stopped
ports:
- ${IMAP_EXPOSE}:143
- ${IMAPS_EXPOSE}:993
volumes:
- ${DOVECOT_CONF}:/etc/dovecot/dovecot.conf:ro
- ${SSL_CERT}:/etc/dovecot/ssl/cert.pem:ro
- ${SSL_KEY}:/etc/dovecot/ssl/key.pem:ro

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example.dovecot.conf Normal file
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# Dovecot IMAP proxy configuration (dovecot 2.4 syntax)
#
# Terminates SSL/TLS for the local hostname (e.g. imap.example.com) and
# proxies every login, credentials included, to the destination server
# (e.g. imap.example.net) over its own SSL/TLS connection. After the login
# succeeds, dovecot forwards the connection bit-by-bit in both directions.
dovecot_config_version = 2.4.0
dovecot_storage_version = 2.4.0
protocols = imap
log_path = /dev/stdout
ssl = yes
ssl_server_cert_file = /etc/dovecot/ssl/cert.pem
ssl_server_key_file = /etc/dovecot/ssl/key.pem
ssl_min_protocol = TLSv1.2
ssl_client_ca_file = /etc/ssl/certs/ca-certificates.crt
auth_mechanisms = plain login
service imap-login {
inet_listener imap {
port = 143
}
inet_listener imaps {
port = 993
ssl = yes
}
}
passdb static {
fields {
nopassword = yes
proxy = yes
host = imap.example.net
port = 993
ssl = yes
}
}

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example.env Normal file
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# Dovecot
DOVECOT_VERSION=2.4.4-root
DOVECOT_CONF=./data/dovecot.conf
IMAP_EXPOSE=143
IMAPS_EXPOSE=993
# SSL certificates
SSL_CERT=/etc/letsencrypt/live/imap.example.com/fullchain.pem
SSL_KEY=/etc/letsencrypt/live/imap.example.com/privkey.pem