Mailoney review
A focused, open-source SMTP decoy for capturing credentials, messages, and session data.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Mailoney is an open-source, low-interaction SMTP honeypot from phin3has. It simulates a vulnerable mail server, accepts connections on port 25, and records unauthorized access attempts, credential harvesting, and SMTP activity. Its intended audience is operators monitoring email abuse in controlled environments, especially those who need to capture authentication attempts, credentials, message DATA, and session metadata rather than operate a general-purpose honeypot platform.
The product’s main strength is the depth of its SMTP capture. It can log destination IP and port information, store session data in a database, and retain captured message bodies when configured. Structured session data supports later analysis and integration, while SQLite, PostgreSQL, and MySQL/MariaDB provide database choices for different self-hosted environments. Docker deployment is also supported, giving teams a container-based installation path alongside local Python deployment.
Mailoney’s focused scope is both its clearest advantage and its main boundary. For teams investigating SMTP credential attacks, message capture, and email-based abuse, its application-level decoy is closely aligned with the task. Teams seeking coverage across multiple protocols or a broader decoy environment should look elsewhere. It is best suited to operators comfortable managing self-hosted software, database storage, and controlled monitoring infrastructure; it is less suitable for buyers looking for a commercial service or a wider honeypot suite.
Mailoney pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Captures SMTP authentication attempts, credentials, and DATA messages
- Stores structured session data in SQLite, PostgreSQL, or MySQL/MariaDB
- Supports Docker and records destination IP and port details
- Where it doesn't
- Focused on SMTP rather than broader honeypot protocol coverage
- Self-hosted deployment requires local operational management
- Low-interaction simulation is narrower than a full mail-server environment
Mailoney fact sheet, pricing and score →
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