Problem:

Using MySQL storage for the user and password db with MD5-CRYPT hashes, Dovecot fails to successfully authenticate when the MD5-CRYPT or MD5 settings are specified as default_pass_scheme in dovecot-mysql.conf.
Dovecot /does/ successfully authenticate against MD5-CRYPT hashes when default_pass_scheme is set to CRYPT, which according to the docs should be DES encryption. (I do not know whether or not CRYPT actually works with DES hashes.)

I am positive that I am using MD5-CRYPT hashes, as I have dropped in hashes from a Qmail/Vpopmail vpasswd file and they work with the CRYPT setting in Dovecot, as do hashes generated using htpasswd -nmb.

Test system:

Ubuntu Server 7.10, amd64 Dovecot 1.0.5 (from Ubuntu repositories) Postfix 2.4.5 (from Ubuntu repositories)

Demonstration:

# cat /etc/dovecot/dovecot-mysql.conf driver = mysql connect = dbname=redacted user=redacted host=127.0.0.1 password=redacted default_pass_scheme = MD5-CRYPT password_query = SELECT password FROM mailbox WHERE username = '%u' user_query = SELECT maildir, 105 AS uid, 114 AS gid FROM mailbox WHERE username = '%u' # htpasswd -nmb user password user:$apr1$bZQl//..$2IPoOibTBaqpG7pPFigOy/ # mysql -u postfix -p mysql> use redacted; Database changed mysql> update userdb set password='$apr1$bZQl//..$2IPoOibTBaqpG7pPFigOy/' where username='user'; Query OK, 1 rows affected (0.00 sec) mysql>quit Bye # telnet localhost 143 Trying 127.0.0.1... Connected to localhost. Escape character is '^]'.

• OK Dovecot ready. a login user password a NO Authentication failed. a logout
• BYE Logging out a OK Logout completed. Connection closed by foreign host.

replace MD5-CRYPT CRYPT -- /etc/dovecot/dovecot-mysql.conf

# /etc/init.d/dovecot restart

• Restarting IMAP/POP3 mail server dovecot
  [ OK ]

telnet localhost 143

Trying 127.0.0.1... Connected to localhost. Escape character is '^]'.

• OK Dovecot ready. a login user password a OK Logged in. a logout
• BYE Logging out a OK Logout completed. Connection closed by foreign host.