RouterOS 7.22: e-mail send fails from script with socket error / invalid BODY when using multiline body and attachment array

[realfeigling]

Hi,

on RouterOS 7.22.2 I can send backup e-mails manually from terminal, including multiline body and two attachments, but the BackupAndUpdate script fails when sending the same data from script.

Working manual command pattern:

:local NL "\r\n"
:local body ("System backups have been successfully created and attached to this email." . $NL . $NL . "Device information:" . $NL . "RouterOS version: v7.22.2 (stable)")
/tool e-mail send to=user@example.com subject="manual-full-body-two-files" body=$body file="backup.backup,backup.rsc"

Observed script errors:

Error sending e-mail <...>: socket error

Earlier multiline body tests also showed:

invalid BODY

Findings:

• Multiline body works when built with CRLF ("\r\n"), but fails or is unstable with "\n".
• Sending two attachments works when file= receives a comma-separated string:
  backup.backup,backup.rsc
• Sending from script is unstable when attachments are passed as RouterOS array:
  {$backupFileSys;$backupFileConfig}
• Dynamic subjects containing backticks around identity names may also trigger send instability on 7.22.
• Backup files should only be deleted after /tool e-mail get last-status is confirmed as succeeded.

Suggested fix:

• Build mail body with CRLF.
• Return attachment list as comma-separated string instead of array.
• Avoid backticks or special formatting in mail subject.
• Delete backup files only after confirmed successful delivery.

Environment:

• RouterOS: 7.22.2 stable
• Script mode: backup
• E-mail sending from terminal works
• E-mail sending from script fails with same attachments unless adjusted as above

[beeyev]

Please check if you are using the latest script version:
https://github.com/beeyev/Mikrotik-RouterOS-automatic-backup-and-update

[realfeigling]

2026-05-13 13:26:31 script,info Bkp&Upd: Script "Mikrotik RouterOS automatic backup & update" v.26.02.22 started.
2026-05-13 13:26:31 script,info Bkp&Upd: Script Mode: backup, Update channel: stable, Force backup: false, Install only patch updates: false
2026-05-13 13:26:31 script,info Bkp&Upd: Validating email settings...
2026-05-13 13:26:32 script,warning Bkp&Upd: Failed to detect public IP using default service: https://ipv4.mikrotik.ovh/
2026-05-13 13:26:32 script,warning Bkp&Upd: Trying fallback service: https://api.ipify.org/
2026-05-13 13:26:33 script,info Bkp&Upd: Public IP address detected: xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
2026-05-13 13:26:33 script,info Bkp&Upd: Starting backup process.
2026-05-13 13:26:33 script,info Bkp&Upd: global function FuncCreateBackups started, input: backup_v7.18.1_stable_2026-05-13-13-26-31
2026-05-13 13:26:33 script,info Bkp&Upd: starting backup without password, backup name: backup_v7.18.1_stable_2026-05-13-13-26-31
2026-05-13 13:26:33 script,info Bkp&Upd: system backup created: backup_v7.18.1_stable_2026-05-13-13-26-31.backup
2026-05-13 13:26:33 script,info Bkp&Upd: starting export config with sensitive data, backup name: backup_v7.18.1_stable_2026-05-13-13-26-31
2026-05-13 13:26:33 script,info Bkp&Upd: Config export complete: backup_v7.18.1_stable_2026-05-13-13-26-31.rsc
2026-05-13 13:26:33 script,info Bkp&Upd: Waiting a little to ensure backup files are written
2026-05-13 13:27:13 script,info Bkp&Upd: system backup file successfully saved to the file system: backup_v7.18.1_stable_2026-05-13-13-26-31.backup
2026-05-13 13:27:13 script,info Bkp&Upd: config backup file successfully saved to the file system: backup_v7.18.1_stable_2026-05-13-13-26-31.rsc
2026-05-13 13:27:13 script,info Bkp&Upd: global function FuncCreateBackups finished. Created backups, system: backup_v7.18.1_stable_2026-05-13-13-26-31.backup, config: backup_v7.18.1_stable_2026-05-13-13-26-31.rsc
2026-05-13 13:27:13 script,info Bkp&Upd: Preparing to send email...
2026-05-13 13:27:13 script,info Bkp&Upd: Attempting to send email to user@example.com
2026-05-13 13:27:13 script,info Bkp&Upd: Waiting for email to be sent, timeout in 60 seconds...
2026-05-13 13:27:13 e-mail,error Error sending e-mail <Bkp&Upd: Device - DEVICE-NAME - Backup created>: socket error
2026-05-13 13:27:14 script,info Bkp&Upd: Email send status received: failed
2026-05-13 13:27:14 script,error Bkp&Upd: Email failed to send. Status: failed. Check logs for more details and verify email settings.
2026-05-13 13:27:14 script,error Bkp&Upd: The script will not proceed with the update process, because the email was not sent.
2026-05-13 13:27:14 script,info Bkp&Upd: Cleaning up backup files from the file system...
2026-05-13 13:27:16 script,info Bkp&Upd: the script has finished, script step: 1

[beeyev]

you are trying to send email to user@example.com

[realfeigling]

No, of course I had them sent to my correct email address.

[beeyev]

second line from your log

2026-05-13 13:27:13 script,info Bkp&Upd: Preparing to send email...
2026-05-13 13:27:13 script,info Bkp&Upd: Attempting to send email to user@example.com
2026-05-13 13:27:13 script,info Bkp&Upd: Waiting for email to be sent, timeout in 60 seconds...

[realfeigling]

Trust me. My real email address is already there. It's posted anonymously because I don't want my email address appearing anywhere related to money.