Misconfigured SMTP settings prevents logging in to web vault or fresh opening of mobile vault #109

New Issue

MrUnknownDE · 2026-04-05T20:30:27+02:00

MrUnknownDE commented

2026-04-05 20:30:27 +02:00

Originally created by @majal on 2/16/2026

Prerequisites

I have searched the existing Closed AND Open Issues AND Discussions
I have searched and read the documentation

Vaultwarden Support String

Your environment (Generated via diagnostics page)

Vaultwarden version: v1.35.3
Web-vault version: v2026.1.1
OS/Arch: linux/x86_64
Running within a container: true (Base: Debian)
Database type: SQLite
Database version: 3.50.2
Uses config.json: true
Uses a reverse proxy: true
IP Header check: true (X-Forwarded-For)
Internet access: true
Internet access via a proxy: false
DNS Check: true
Browser/Server Time Check: true
Server/NTP Time Check: true
Domain Configuration Check: true
HTTPS Check: true
Websocket Check: true
HTTP Response Checks: true

Config & Details (Generated via diagnostics page)

Show Config & Details

Environment settings which are overridden: ADMIN_TOKEN

Config:

{
  "_duo_akey": null,
  "_enable_duo": true,
  "_enable_email_2fa": false,
  "_enable_smtp": true,
  "_enable_yubico": true,
  "_icon_service_csp": "",
  "_icon_service_url": "",
  "_ip_header_enabled": true,
  "_max_note_size": 100000,
  "_smtp_img_src": "***:",
  "admin_ratelimit_max_burst": 3,
  "admin_ratelimit_seconds": 300,
  "admin_session_lifetime": 60,
  "admin_token": "***",
  "allowed_connect_src": "",
  "allowed_iframe_ancestors": "",
  "attachments_folder": "data/attachments",
  "auth_request_purge_schedule": "30 * * * * *",
  "authenticator_disable_time_drift": true,
  "data_folder": "data",
  "database_conn_init": "",
  "database_idle_timeout": 600,
  "database_max_conns": 10,
  "database_min_conns": 2,
  "database_timeout": 30,
  "database_url": "***************",
  "db_connection_retries": 15,
  "disable_2fa_remember": false,
  "disable_admin_token": false,
  "disable_icon_download": false,
  "dns_prefer_ipv6": false,
  "domain": "*****://*************************",
  "domain_origin": "*****://*************************",
  "domain_path": "",
  "domain_set": true,
  "duo_context_purge_schedule": "30 * * * * *",
  "duo_host": null,
  "duo_ikey": null,
  "duo_skey": null,
  "duo_use_iframe": false,
  "email_2fa_auto_fallback": false,
  "email_2fa_enforce_on_verified_invite": false,
  "email_attempts_limit": 3,
  "email_change_allowed": true,
  "email_expiration_time": 600,
  "email_token_size": 6,
  "emergency_access_allowed": true,
  "emergency_notification_reminder_schedule": "0 3 * * * *",
  "emergency_request_timeout_schedule": "0 7 * * * *",
  "enable_db_wal": true,
  "enable_websocket": true,
  "enforce_single_org_with_reset_pw_policy": false,
  "event_cleanup_schedule": "0 10 0 * * *",
  "events_days_retain": null,
  "experimental_client_feature_flags": "",
  "extended_logging": true,
  "helo_name": null,
  "hibp_api_key": null,
  "http_request_block_non_global_ips": true,
  "http_request_block_regex": null,
  "icon_blacklist_non_global_ips": true,
  "icon_blacklist_regex": null,
  "icon_cache_folder": "data/icon_cache",
  "icon_cache_negttl": 259200,
  "icon_cache_ttl": 2592000,
  "icon_download_timeout": 10,
  "icon_redirect_code": 302,
  "icon_service": "internal",
  "incomplete_2fa_schedule": "30 * * * * *",
  "incomplete_2fa_time_limit": 10,
  "increase_note_size_limit": true,
  "invitation_expiration_hours": 120,
  "invitation_org_name": "Org",
  "invitations_allowed": true,
  "ip_header": "X-Forwarded-For",
  "job_poll_interval_ms": 30000,
  "log_file": null,
  "log_level": "info",
  "log_timestamp_format": "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S.%3f",
  "login_ratelimit_max_burst": 10,
  "login_ratelimit_seconds": 60,
  "org_attachment_limit": null,
  "org_creation_users": "",
  "org_events_enabled": false,
  "org_groups_enabled": false,
  "password_hints_allowed": true,
  "password_iterations": 1200000,
  "purge_incomplete_sso_auth": "0 20 0 * * *",
  "push_enabled": false,
  "push_identity_uri": "https://identity.bitwarden.com",
  "push_installation_id": "***",
  "push_installation_key": "***",
  "push_relay_uri": "https://push.bitwarden.com",
  "reload_templates": false,
  "require_device_email": true,
  "rsa_key_filename": "data/rsa_key",
  "send_purge_schedule": "0 5 * * * *",
  "sendmail_command": null,
  "sends_allowed": true,
  "sends_folder": "data/sends",
  "show_password_hint": false,
  "signups_allowed": false,
  "signups_domains_whitelist": "",
  "signups_verify": true,
  "signups_verify_resend_limit": 6,
  "signups_verify_resend_time": 21600,
  "smtp_accept_invalid_certs": false,
  "smtp_accept_invalid_hostnames": false,
  "smtp_auth_mechanism": null,
  "smtp_debug": false,
  "smtp_embed_images": true,
  "smtp_explicit_tls": null,
  "smtp_from": "********************",
  "smtp_from_name": "**********************",
  "smtp_host": "**************",
  "smtp_password": "***",
  "smtp_port": 587,
  "smtp_security": "starttls",
  "smtp_ssl": null,
  "smtp_timeout": 15,
  "smtp_username": "********************",
  "sso_allow_unknown_email_verification": false,
  "sso_audience_trusted": null,
  "sso_auth_only_not_session": false,
  "sso_authority": "",
  "sso_authorize_extra_params": "",
  "sso_callback_path": "*****://******************************************************",
  "sso_client_cache_expiration": 0,
  "sso_client_id": "",
  "sso_client_secret": "***",
  "sso_debug_tokens": false,
  "sso_enabled": false,
  "sso_master_password_policy": null,
  "sso_only": false,
  "sso_pkce": true,
  "sso_scopes": "email profile",
  "sso_signups_match_email": true,
  "templates_folder": "data/templates",
  "tmp_folder": "data/tmp",
  "trash_auto_delete_days": 30,
  "trash_purge_schedule": "0 5 0 * * *",
  "use_sendmail": false,
  "use_syslog": false,
  "user_attachment_limit": null,
  "user_send_limit": null,
  "web_vault_enabled": true,
  "web_vault_folder": "web-vault/",
  "yubico_client_id": null,
  "yubico_secret_key": null,
  "yubico_server": null
}

Vaultwarden Build Version

v1.35.3

Deployment method

Official Container Image

Custom deployment method

No response

Reverse Proxy

caddy

Host/Server Operating System

Linux

Operating System Version

Ubuntu 24.04

Clients

Web Vault

Client Version

v2026.1.1

Steps To Reproduce

Misconfigure SMTP
Go to webvault
Log in
After successful username and password, it will ask for 2FA
All 2FA fails

Expected Result

2FA should work

Actual Result

2FA fails

Logs

Screenshots or Videos

No response

Additional Context

This is what happened: I installed Bitwarden on a new phone. It accepted the username and password, but fails TOTP and all passkeys. I went to the web vault. Same thing. Fails all 2FA.

Only clue was the mobile client explained the error that it failed to send out emails. Web vault has no such warning. It just threw an undefined error.

So I went and logged in to /admin to check SMPT settings. Then I remembered that my SMTP password did change months ago. I then adjusted it to the new password and SMTP worked. Login to both mobile and web vault then worked. (Problem fixed! 😅)

The point of this bug report?

I was locked out of the web vault and new mobile device client just because SMTP failed. I don't know if this is by design, or is it something that needs to be corrected.

Kindly note that existing devices can sync and open vaults normally despite the SMTP misconfiguration. It was about six months prior that the SMTP password changed. Just that I did not add a new device or access the web vault since then.

Is it really by design to fail 2FA and lock out users just because SMTP fails, or is it a bug?

*Originally created by @majal on 2/16/2026* ### Prerequisites - [x] I have searched the existing **Closed _AND_ Open** [Issues](https://github.com/dani-garcia/vaultwarden/issues?q=is%3Aissue%20) **_AND_** [Discussions](https://github.com/dani-garcia/vaultwarden/discussions?discussions_q=) - [x] I have searched and read the [documentation](https://github.com/dani-garcia/vaultwarden/wiki/) ### Vaultwarden Support String ### Your environment (Generated via diagnostics page) * Vaultwarden version: v1.35.3 * Web-vault version: v2026.1.1 * OS/Arch: linux/x86_64 * Running within a container: true (Base: Debian) * Database type: SQLite * Database version: 3.50.2 * Uses config.json: true * Uses a reverse proxy: true * IP Header check: true (X-Forwarded-For) * Internet access: true * Internet access via a proxy: false * DNS Check: true * Browser/Server Time Check: true * Server/NTP Time Check: true * Domain Configuration Check: true * HTTPS Check: true * Websocket Check: true * HTTP Response Checks: true ### Config & Details (Generated via diagnostics page) <details><summary>Show Config & Details</summary> **Environment settings which are overridden:** ADMIN_TOKEN **Config:** ```json { "_duo_akey": null, "_enable_duo": true, "_enable_email_2fa": false, "_enable_smtp": true, "_enable_yubico": true, "_icon_service_csp": "", "_icon_service_url": "", "_ip_header_enabled": true, "_max_note_size": 100000, "_smtp_img_src": "***:", "admin_ratelimit_max_burst": 3, "admin_ratelimit_seconds": 300, "admin_session_lifetime": 60, "admin_token": "***", "allowed_connect_src": "", "allowed_iframe_ancestors": "", "attachments_folder": "data/attachments", "auth_request_purge_schedule": "30 * * * * *", "authenticator_disable_time_drift": true, "data_folder": "data", "database_conn_init": "", "database_idle_timeout": 600, "database_max_conns": 10, "database_min_conns": 2, "database_timeout": 30, "database_url": "***************", "db_connection_retries": 15, "disable_2fa_remember": false, "disable_admin_token": false, "disable_icon_download": false, "dns_prefer_ipv6": false, "domain": "*****://*************************", "domain_origin": "*****://*************************", "domain_path": "", "domain_set": true, "duo_context_purge_schedule": "30 * * * * *", "duo_host": null, "duo_ikey": null, "duo_skey": null, "duo_use_iframe": false, "email_2fa_auto_fallback": false, "email_2fa_enforce_on_verified_invite": false, "email_attempts_limit": 3, "email_change_allowed": true, "email_expiration_time": 600, "email_token_size": 6, "emergency_access_allowed": true, "emergency_notification_reminder_schedule": "0 3 * * * *", "emergency_request_timeout_schedule": "0 7 * * * *", "enable_db_wal": true, "enable_websocket": true, "enforce_single_org_with_reset_pw_policy": false, "event_cleanup_schedule": "0 10 0 * * *", "events_days_retain": null, "experimental_client_feature_flags": "", "extended_logging": true, "helo_name": null, "hibp_api_key": null, "http_request_block_non_global_ips": true, "http_request_block_regex": null, "icon_blacklist_non_global_ips": true, "icon_blacklist_regex": null, "icon_cache_folder": "data/icon_cache", "icon_cache_negttl": 259200, "icon_cache_ttl": 2592000, "icon_download_timeout": 10, "icon_redirect_code": 302, "icon_service": "internal", "incomplete_2fa_schedule": "30 * * * * *", "incomplete_2fa_time_limit": 10, "increase_note_size_limit": true, "invitation_expiration_hours": 120, "invitation_org_name": "Org", "invitations_allowed": true, "ip_header": "X-Forwarded-For", "job_poll_interval_ms": 30000, "log_file": null, "log_level": "info", "log_timestamp_format": "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S.%3f", "login_ratelimit_max_burst": 10, "login_ratelimit_seconds": 60, "org_attachment_limit": null, "org_creation_users": "", "org_events_enabled": false, "org_groups_enabled": false, "password_hints_allowed": true, "password_iterations": 1200000, "purge_incomplete_sso_auth": "0 20 0 * * *", "push_enabled": false, "push_identity_uri": "https://identity.bitwarden.com", "push_installation_id": "***", "push_installation_key": "***", "push_relay_uri": "https://push.bitwarden.com", "reload_templates": false, "require_device_email": true, "rsa_key_filename": "data/rsa_key", "send_purge_schedule": "0 5 * * * *", "sendmail_command": null, "sends_allowed": true, "sends_folder": "data/sends", "show_password_hint": false, "signups_allowed": false, "signups_domains_whitelist": "", "signups_verify": true, "signups_verify_resend_limit": 6, "signups_verify_resend_time": 21600, "smtp_accept_invalid_certs": false, "smtp_accept_invalid_hostnames": false, "smtp_auth_mechanism": null, "smtp_debug": false, "smtp_embed_images": true, "smtp_explicit_tls": null, "smtp_from": "********************", "smtp_from_name": "**********************", "smtp_host": "**************", "smtp_password": "***", "smtp_port": 587, "smtp_security": "starttls", "smtp_ssl": null, "smtp_timeout": 15, "smtp_username": "********************", "sso_allow_unknown_email_verification": false, "sso_audience_trusted": null, "sso_auth_only_not_session": false, "sso_authority": "", "sso_authorize_extra_params": "", "sso_callback_path": "*****://******************************************************", "sso_client_cache_expiration": 0, "sso_client_id": "", "sso_client_secret": "***", "sso_debug_tokens": false, "sso_enabled": false, "sso_master_password_policy": null, "sso_only": false, "sso_pkce": true, "sso_scopes": "email profile", "sso_signups_match_email": true, "templates_folder": "data/templates", "tmp_folder": "data/tmp", "trash_auto_delete_days": 30, "trash_purge_schedule": "0 5 0 * * *", "use_sendmail": false, "use_syslog": false, "user_attachment_limit": null, "user_send_limit": null, "web_vault_enabled": true, "web_vault_folder": "web-vault/", "yubico_client_id": null, "yubico_secret_key": null, "yubico_server": null } ``` </details> ### Vaultwarden Build Version v1.35.3 ### Deployment method Official Container Image ### Custom deployment method _No response_ ### Reverse Proxy caddy ### Host/Server Operating System Linux ### Operating System Version Ubuntu 24.04 ### Clients Web Vault ### Client Version v2026.1.1 ### Steps To Reproduce 1. Misconfigure SMTP 2. Go to webvault 3. Log in 4. After successful username and password, it will ask for 2FA 5. All 2FA fails ### Expected Result 2FA should work ### Actual Result 2FA fails ### Logs ```text ``` ### Screenshots or Videos _No response_ ### Additional Context This is what happened: I installed Bitwarden on a new phone. It accepted the username and password, but fails TOTP and all passkeys. I went to the web vault. Same thing. Fails all 2FA. Only clue was the mobile client explained the error that it failed to send out emails. Web vault has no such warning. It just threw an undefined error. So I went and logged in to `/admin` to check SMPT settings. Then I remembered that my SMTP password did change months ago. I then adjusted it to the new password and SMTP worked. Login to both mobile and web vault then worked. (Problem fixed! 😅) The point of this bug report? I was locked out of the web vault and _new_ mobile device client just because SMTP failed. I don't know if this is by design, or is it something that needs to be corrected. Kindly note that existing devices can sync and open vaults normally despite the SMTP misconfiguration. It was about six months prior that the SMTP password changed. Just that I did not add a new device or access the web vault since then. Is it really by design to fail 2FA and lock out users just because SMTP fails, or is it a bug?

MrUnknownDE closed this issue

2026-04-05 20:30:27 +02:00

MrUnknownDE added the bug bug bug bug bug bug bug bug bug bug bug bug bug bug bug bug bug bug bug bug bug bug bug bug bug bug bug bug bug bug bug bug bug bug bug bug bug bug bug bug labels 2026-04-05 20:30:31 +02:00

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Reference: github/vaultwarden#109