The mailing list for listmasters using Sympa

[Patrick Rynhart <address@concealed>]

Hi,

I'd like to report a possible bug in Sympa.  However, I wanted to detail 
the steps below for comment prior to opening a bug report on the tracker 
(if it's agreed that this is indeed one).

In Short
--------
Prior to a list being approved or declined, a list requester can start 
adding subscribers (even though the list is "not yet activiated").  The 
subscribers then get an email welcoming them to the list.  It looks like 
the list is active, so subscribers start emailing the list.  However, 
the list isn't installed - so the mails bounce (resulting in confusion 
to the end users).

Full Details as to how to replicate the issue
---------------------------------------------
Below is the workflow involved.  I have tested this both on our local 
installation along with "demo.sympa.org" and get the same behaviour.

1. A user requests a new list "foo" via the Sympa web interface.  Sympa 
displays the message: "Your list creation request is registered. You can 
now modify the configuration using the admin button but the list will be 
unusable until the listmaster approves it."

2. **Prior to the list being approved or declined by a Listmaster**, the 
user clicks "Admin -> Manage Subscribers" and starts adding subscribers:

address@concealed
address@concealed
....

3. Each of the above subscribers get the following mail, making it look 
as though the list is ready for use:

-------- Original Message --------
Subject:        Welcome to list foo
Date:   Tue, 10 Dec 2013 16:40:40 +1300
From:   <address@concealed>
To:     <address@concealed>

Welcome to list address@concealed
Your subscription email is address@concealed

The list homepage: https://my.sympa.server/sympa/info/foo
General informations about mailing lists:
https://my.sympa.server/sympa/help/introduction

4. Users immediately start attempting to use the list (because from 
there point of view there's nothing to indicate that the list is not 
live and they've got the welcome mail).  However, the list isn't 
approved and the aliases aren't installed.  Hence users get the 
following bounce:

-------- Original Message --------
Subject:        Undeliverable Mail: "test"
Date:   Tue, 10 Dec 2013 16:52:48 +1300
From:   <address@concealed>
To:     <address@concealed>

Your message:
   From:    address@concealed
   Subject: test

Could not be delivered because of
550 5.1.1 <address@concealed>: Recipient address rejected: User 
unknown in local recipient table
The following recipients were affected:
    address@concealed

Comment regarding the above: I think that Sympa shouldn't allow members 
to be added via the Web UI until a decision has been made by a 
listmaster as to whether a list should be approved or declined.