secure-smtplib (Python 2)

0.1.1 · abandoned · verified Wed Apr 15

secure-smtplib is an abandoned Python 2 library (last released in 2015) that provides subclasses for the standard `smtplib` module to handle secure SMTP connections. Its functionality has been largely superseded by built-in improvements to the standard `smtplib` module in Python 3, which offers robust SSL/TLS support through `SMTP_SSL` and `starttls()` methods, often in conjunction with the `ssl` module. This library is not recommended for new projects or Python 3 environments due to its age and lack of maintenance.

Warnings

breaking This library is designed for Python 2 and is not compatible with Python 3. Attempting to use it in a Python 3 environment will likely result in import errors or unexpected behavior.
Fix: Migrate to Python 3 and use the built-in `smtplib` and `ssl` modules for secure email functionality.
deprecated The functionality provided by `secure-smtplib` for secure SMTP connections (SSL/TLS) has been integrated into and significantly improved within Python's standard `smtplib` module since Python 3.3. The standard library now offers `smtplib.SMTP_SSL` for implicit TLS and `smtplib.SMTP().starttls()` for explicit TLS, along with `ssl.create_default_context()` for robust security configuration.
Fix: Discontinue use of `secure-smtplib` and leverage the `smtplib` and `ssl` modules available in Python 3.
gotcha The library is unmaintained (last updated in 2015) and specifically targets Python 2. Using unmaintained software, especially for network communication involving credentials, can introduce significant security vulnerabilities.
Fix: Avoid using `secure-smtplib` in production or security-sensitive applications. Prioritize actively maintained libraries or the robust built-in `smtplib` module in Python 3 for secure email operations.

Install

pip install secure-smtplib Install secure-smtplib

Imports

SecureSMTP
```
from secure_smtplib import SecureSMTP
```

SecureSMTP_SSL

from secure_smtplib import SecureSMTP_SSL

Quickstart

This quickstart demonstrates how to send a secure email using Python 3's built-in `smtplib` and `ssl` modules. This is the **recommended modern approach** for secure email communication and should be used **instead of** the `secure-smtplib` library, which is outdated. Ensure you set `SMTP_HOST`, `SMTP_PORT`, `SMTP_USERNAME`, and `SMTP_PASSWORD` environment variables for authentication.

import smtplib
import ssl
import os
from email.message import EmailMessage

# NOTE: This quickstart uses Python 3's built-in smtplib and ssl modules,
# which are the recommended and secure way to send emails. The `secure-smtplib`
# library itself is deprecated and not suitable for modern Python or secure applications.

SMTP_SERVER = os.environ.get('SMTP_HOST', 'smtp.example.com')
SMTP_PORT = int(os.environ.get('SMTP_PORT', '465')) # Use 587 for STARTTLS
EMAIL_ADDRESS = os.environ.get('SMTP_USERNAME', 'your_email@example.com')
EMAIL_PASSWORD = os.environ.get('SMTP_PASSWORD', 'your_app_password') # Use app passwords if 2FA is enabled

msg = EmailMessage()
msg['Subject'] = 'Test Email from Python'
msg['From'] = EMAIL_ADDRESS
msg['To'] = 'recipient@example.com'
msg.set_content('This is a test email sent securely using Python 3 smtplib.')

context = ssl.create_default_context()

try:
    with smtplib.SMTP_SSL(SMTP_SERVER, SMTP_PORT, context=context) as server:
        server.login(EMAIL_ADDRESS, EMAIL_PASSWORD)
        server.send_message(msg)
    print("Email sent successfully!")
except smtplib.SMTPAuthenticationError as e:
    print(f"Authentication error: {e}. Check your username and password/app password.")
except smtplib.SMTPServerDisconnected as e:
    print(f"Server disconnected unexpectedly: {e}. Check host and port.")
except Exception as e:
    print(f"An error occurred: {e}")

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