.

.env.example

@@ -12,5 +12,6 @@ HOSTED_DOMAINS=example.com
 SESSION_COOKIE_NAME=mail_admin_session
 SESSION_TTL_MINUTES=480
 RESET_TOKEN_TTL_MINUTES=60
+MAILBOX_INVITE_TTL_HOURS=48
 APP_ADMIN_EMAIL=admin@local
 APP_ADMIN_ACCESS_KEY=change-this-access-key

README.md

@@ -67,9 +67,7 @@ The backend is intentionally flat:
 - `apps/api/src/docker/`
   Wraps Docker CLI calls with fixed argument arrays only. No shell interpolation.
 - `apps/api/src/users/service.ts`
-  Contains the mailbox user operations and the one-time link flow for password changes.
-- `apps/api/src/mail/service.ts`
-  Sends setup emails for newly created mailboxes through `sendmail` inside the Docker Mailserver container.
+  Contains the mailbox user operations, pending mailbox invites, and the one-time link flow for password changes.
 - `apps/api/src/lib/`
   Holds config parsing, SQLite access, validation, HTTP helpers, and small security utilities.
 
@@ -98,24 +96,24 @@ The dashboard includes:
 - mailbox listing
 - simple search
 - create user modal
-- temporary link generation for password changes
+- 48-hour setup link generation for new mailboxes
+- temporary link generation for password changes on existing mailboxes
 - delete action
 - no direct password change from the admin panel
 
-The create flow intentionally generates a temporary password on the server and immediately emails a one-time reset link to the user. That means the admin panel never needs to expose an initial mailbox password in the UI.
+The create flow now generates a 48-hour setup link. The mailbox does not exist yet at that point. It is created only when the user opens the link and chooses a password.
 
 ## 5. Password reset flow
 
 The reset flow is built to stay secure without becoming heavy:
 
-1. An admin generates a one-time link for an existing mailbox.
-2. The backend generates a random opaque token.
-3. Only the SHA-256 hash of that token is stored in SQLite.
-4. The admin shares the one-time link manually with the user.
-5. The reset page validates the token before showing the password form.
-6. On submit, the token is claimed for one use only.
-7. The backend updates the mailbox password through Docker Mailserver.
-8. Used or expired tokens are rejected.
+1. For a new mailbox, the admin generates a 48-hour setup link.
+2. The mailbox is not created yet.
+3. The backend stores only the SHA-256 hash of the invite token.
+4. The admin shares the one-time setup link manually with the user.
+5. When the user chooses a password through the link, the backend creates the mailbox in Docker Mailserver.
+6. For existing mailboxes, the same public page is reused for password reset links.
+7. Every link is one-time and expires automatically.
 
 ## 6. Docker CLI integration strategy
 
@@ -142,6 +140,7 @@ Security choices here:
 - Access key login is protected by an intentionally aggressive in-memory rate limit with escalating lockouts.
 - Sessions are server-side, opaque, and stored in an `HttpOnly` cookie with `SameSite=Strict`.
 - Password reset tokens are random, one-time, time-limited, and stored only as hashes.
+- New mailbox setup links are also one-time, time-limited, and stored only as hashes.
 - The admin panel never changes mailbox passwords directly; it only generates one-time links.
 - Admin-only routes require a valid session cookie.
 - Validation is applied to logins, emails, passwords, and reset payloads.
@@ -166,6 +165,7 @@ Security choices here:
    - `MAILSERVER_CONTAINER`
    - `APP_ADMIN_EMAIL`
    - `APP_ADMIN_ACCESS_KEY`
+   - `MAILBOX_INVITE_TTL_HOURS=48`
 3. Install dependencies:
 
 ```bash

apps/api/src/lib/config.ts

@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ export const config = {
   sessionCookieName: env.SESSION_COOKIE_NAME ?? "mail_admin_session",
   sessionTtlMs: parseNumber(env.SESSION_TTL_MINUTES, 480) * 60_000,
   resetTokenTtlMs: parseNumber(env.RESET_TOKEN_TTL_MINUTES, 60) * 60_000,
+  mailboxInviteTtlMs: parseNumber(env.MAILBOX_INVITE_TTL_HOURS, 48) * 60 * 60_000,
   appAdminEmail: env.APP_ADMIN_EMAIL?.trim().toLowerCase() ?? "panel-admin@local",
   appAdminAccessKey: env.APP_ADMIN_ACCESS_KEY ?? "",
   appMailFrom: env.APP_MAIL_FROM?.trim().toLowerCase() ?? "[email protected]",

apps/api/src/lib/db.ts

@@ -26,6 +26,15 @@ export type PasswordResetTokenRow = {
   created_at: number;
 };
 
+export type PendingMailboxInviteRow = {
+  token_hash: string;
+  user_email: string;
+  created_by: string;
+  expires_at: number;
+  used_at: number | null;
+  created_at: number;
+};
+
 mkdirSync(dirname(config.dbPath), { recursive: true });
 
 const db = new Database(config.dbPath, { create: true });
@@ -55,6 +64,15 @@ db.exec(`
     created_at INTEGER NOT NULL
   );
 
+  CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS pending_mailbox_invites (
+    token_hash TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
+    user_email TEXT NOT NULL,
+    created_by TEXT NOT NULL,
+    expires_at INTEGER NOT NULL,
+    used_at INTEGER,
+    created_at INTEGER NOT NULL
+  );
+
   CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_app_sessions_expires_at
     ON app_sessions(expires_at);
 
@@ -63,6 +81,12 @@ db.exec(`
 
   CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_password_reset_tokens_expires_at
     ON password_reset_tokens(expires_at);
+
+  CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_pending_mailbox_invites_email
+    ON pending_mailbox_invites(user_email);
+
+  CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_pending_mailbox_invites_expires_at
+    ON pending_mailbox_invites(expires_at);
 `);
 
 const getAdminStatement = db.query("SELECT * FROM app_admins WHERE email = ?1");
@@ -115,6 +139,46 @@ const deleteExpiredResetTokensStatement = db.query(`
   WHERE expires_at <= ?1
      OR (used_at IS NOT NULL AND used_at <= ?2)
 `);
+const insertPendingMailboxInviteStatement = db.query(`
+  INSERT INTO pending_mailbox_invites (token_hash, user_email, created_by, expires_at, used_at, created_at)
+  VALUES (?1, ?2, ?3, ?4, NULL, ?5)
+`);
+const getActivePendingMailboxInviteStatement = db.query(`
+  SELECT * FROM pending_mailbox_invites
+  WHERE token_hash = ?1
+    AND used_at IS NULL
+    AND expires_at > ?2
+`);
+const getActivePendingMailboxInviteForUserStatement = db.query(`
+  SELECT * FROM pending_mailbox_invites
+  WHERE user_email = ?1
+    AND used_at IS NULL
+    AND expires_at > ?2
+  ORDER BY created_at DESC
+  LIMIT 1
+`);
+const deleteActivePendingMailboxInvitesForUserStatement = db.query(`
+  DELETE FROM pending_mailbox_invites
+  WHERE user_email = ?1
+    AND used_at IS NULL
+`);
+const claimPendingMailboxInviteStatement = db.query(`
+  UPDATE pending_mailbox_invites
+  SET used_at = ?2
+  WHERE token_hash = ?1
+    AND used_at IS NULL
+    AND expires_at > ?3
+`);
+const releasePendingMailboxInviteStatement = db.query(`
+  UPDATE pending_mailbox_invites
+  SET used_at = NULL
+  WHERE token_hash = ?1
+`);
+const deleteExpiredPendingMailboxInvitesStatement = db.query(`
+  DELETE FROM pending_mailbox_invites
+  WHERE expires_at <= ?1
+     OR (used_at IS NOT NULL AND used_at <= ?2)
+`);
 
 export const getAdmin = (email: string): AdminRow | null =>
   (getAdminStatement.get(email) as AdminRow | null) ?? null;
@@ -171,8 +235,44 @@ export const releasePasswordResetToken = (tokenHash: string): void => {
   releaseResetTokenStatement.run(tokenHash);
 };
 
+export const createPendingMailboxInvite = (input: {
+  tokenHash: string;
+  userEmail: string;
+  createdBy: string;
+  expiresAt: number;
+}): void => {
+  insertPendingMailboxInviteStatement.run(
+    input.tokenHash,
+    input.userEmail,
+    input.createdBy,
+    input.expiresAt,
+    Date.now()
+  );
+};
+
+export const getActivePendingMailboxInvite = (tokenHash: string): PendingMailboxInviteRow | null =>
+  (getActivePendingMailboxInviteStatement.get(tokenHash, Date.now()) as PendingMailboxInviteRow | null) ?? null;
+
+export const getActivePendingMailboxInviteForUser = (userEmail: string): PendingMailboxInviteRow | null =>
+  (getActivePendingMailboxInviteForUserStatement.get(userEmail, Date.now()) as PendingMailboxInviteRow | null) ?? null;
+
+export const deleteActivePendingMailboxInvitesForUser = (userEmail: string): void => {
+  deleteActivePendingMailboxInvitesForUserStatement.run(userEmail);
+};
+
+export const claimPendingMailboxInvite = (tokenHash: string): boolean => {
+  const usedAt = Date.now();
+  const result = claimPendingMailboxInviteStatement.run(tokenHash, usedAt, usedAt);
+  return result.changes > 0;
+};
+
+export const releasePendingMailboxInvite = (tokenHash: string): void => {
+  releasePendingMailboxInviteStatement.run(tokenHash);
+};
+
 export const cleanupDatabase = (): void => {
   const now = Date.now();
   deleteExpiredSessionsStatement.run(now);
   deleteExpiredResetTokensStatement.run(now, now - 86_400_000);
+  deleteExpiredPendingMailboxInvitesStatement.run(now, now - 86_400_000);
 };

apps/api/src/users/service.ts

@@ -8,15 +8,19 @@ import {
 import { config } from "../lib/config";
 import {
   claimPasswordResetToken,
+  claimPendingMailboxInvite,
   createPasswordResetToken,
+  createPendingMailboxInvite,
   deleteActivePasswordResetTokensForUser,
-  deletePasswordResetToken,
+  deleteActivePendingMailboxInvitesForUser,
   getActivePasswordResetToken,
+  getActivePendingMailboxInvite,
+  getActivePendingMailboxInviteForUser,
+  releasePendingMailboxInvite,
   releasePasswordResetToken
 } from "../lib/db";
 import { HttpError } from "../lib/errors";
-import { createOpaqueToken, createTemporaryPassword, hashToken } from "../lib/security";
-import { sendPasswordResetEmail } from "../mail/service";
+import { createOpaqueToken, hashToken } from "../lib/security";
 
 const maskEmail = (email: string): string => {
   const [rawLocalPart, rawDomain] = email.split("@");
@@ -32,6 +36,13 @@ const maskEmail = (email: string): string => {
 const buildResetLink = (token: string): string =>
   `${config.externalBaseUrl}/reset-password?token=${encodeURIComponent(token)}`;
 
+const ensureUserDoesNotExist = async (email: string): Promise<void> => {
+  const users = await listMailUsers();
+  if (users.some((item) => item.email === email)) {
+    throw new HttpError(409, "A mailbox with this email already exists.");
+  }
+};
+
 const createPasswordResetLink = async (
   email: string,
   createdBy: string
@@ -72,29 +83,32 @@ export const listUsers = async (): Promise<MailUser[]> =>
   listMailUsers();
 
 export const createUser = async (email: string, createdBy: string): Promise<CreateUserResponse> => {
-  const temporaryPassword = createTemporaryPassword();
-  await addMailUser(email, temporaryPassword);
+  await ensureUserDoesNotExist(email);
 
-  const user = await ensureUserExists(email);
-
-  try {
-    const reset = await createPasswordResetLink(email, createdBy);
-    await sendPasswordResetEmail(email, reset.resetLink, reset.expiresAt);
-
-    return {
-      user,
-      resetLinkSent: true,
-      resetLinkExpiresAt: reset.expiresAt,
-      warning: null
-    };
-  } catch {
-    return {
-      user,
-      resetLinkSent: false,
-      resetLinkExpiresAt: null,
-      warning: "Mailbox created, but the setup email could not be sent. Trigger another reset link after mail delivery is fixed."
-    };
+  const activeInvite = getActivePendingMailboxInviteForUser(email);
+  if (activeInvite) {
+    throw new HttpError(409, "A setup link already exists for this mailbox.");
   }
+
+  deleteActivePendingMailboxInvitesForUser(email);
+
+  const rawToken = createOpaqueToken();
+  const tokenHash = hashToken(rawToken);
+  const expiresAtMs = Date.now() + config.mailboxInviteTtlMs;
+  const expiresAt = new Date(expiresAtMs).toISOString();
+
+  createPendingMailboxInvite({
+    tokenHash,
+    userEmail: email,
+    createdBy,
+    expiresAt: expiresAtMs
+  });
+
+  return {
+    email,
+    setupLink: buildResetLink(rawToken),
+    expiresAt
+  };
 };
 
 export const deleteUser = async (email: string): Promise<void> => {
@@ -110,12 +124,24 @@ export const triggerPasswordReset = async (
 };
 
 export const inspectPasswordReset = async (token: string): Promise<PasswordResetInspectResponse> => {
-  const resetToken = getActivePasswordResetToken(hashToken(token));
+  const tokenHash = hashToken(token);
+  const pendingInvite = getActivePendingMailboxInvite(tokenHash);
+
+  if (pendingInvite) {
+    return {
+      mode: "invite",
+      emailHint: pendingInvite.user_email,
+      expiresAt: new Date(pendingInvite.expires_at).toISOString()
+    };
+  }
+
+  const resetToken = getActivePasswordResetToken(tokenHash);
   if (!resetToken) {
     throw new HttpError(400, "This password reset link is invalid or expired.");
   }
 
   return {
+    mode: "reset",
     emailHint: maskEmail(resetToken.user_email),
     expiresAt: new Date(resetToken.expires_at).toISOString()
   };
@@ -123,6 +149,23 @@ export const inspectPasswordReset = async (token: string): Promise<PasswordReset
 
 export const consumePasswordReset = async (token: string, password: string): Promise<void> => {
   const tokenHash = hashToken(token);
+  const pendingInvite = getActivePendingMailboxInvite(tokenHash);
+
+  if (pendingInvite) {
+    const claimedInvite = claimPendingMailboxInvite(tokenHash);
+    if (!claimedInvite) {
+      throw new HttpError(400, "This setup link is invalid or already used.");
+    }
+
+    try {
+      await addMailUser(pendingInvite.user_email, password);
+      return;
+    } catch (error) {
+      releasePendingMailboxInvite(tokenHash);
+      throw error;
+    }
+  }
+
   const resetToken = getActivePasswordResetToken(tokenHash);
 
   if (!resetToken) {

apps/web/src/App.tsx

@@ -93,9 +93,7 @@ export default function App() {
     setErrorMessage(null);
 
     try {
-      const result = await api.createUser({ email });
-      await loadUsers();
-      return result;
+      return await api.createUser({ email });
     } finally {
       setBusy(false);
     }

apps/web/src/components/ResetLinkModal.tsx

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 type ResetLinkModalProps = {
+  variant?: "invite" | "reset";
   email: string;
   resetLink: string;
   expiresAt: string;
@@ -6,6 +7,7 @@ type ResetLinkModalProps = {
 };
 
 export default function ResetLinkModal({
+  variant = "reset",
   email,
   resetLink,
   expiresAt,
@@ -19,14 +21,18 @@ export default function ResetLinkModal({
     }
   };
 
+  const isInvite = variant === "invite";
+
   return (
     <div className="modal-backdrop" role="presentation">
       <div className="modal-card" role="dialog" aria-modal="true">
         <div className="modal-header">
           <div>
-            <h2>Temporary reset link</h2>
+            <h2>{isInvite ? "Mailbox setup link" : "Temporary reset link"}</h2>
             <p>
-              No email was sent for <strong>{email}</strong>. Share this one-time link yourself.
+              {isInvite
+                ? <>Share this one-time setup link for <strong>{email}</strong>. The mailbox will only be created after the user chooses a password.</>
+                : <>No email was sent for <strong>{email}</strong>. Share this one-time link yourself.</>}
             </p>
           </div>
           <button type="button" className="ghost-button" onClick={onClose}>
@@ -36,7 +42,7 @@ export default function ResetLinkModal({
 
         <div className="stack">
           <label className="field">
-            <span>One-time link</span>
+            <span>{isInvite ? "Setup link" : "One-time link"}</span>
             <input type="text" readOnly value={resetLink} />
           </label>
 

apps/web/src/components/UserFormModal.tsx

@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ export default function UserFormModal({
           <div>
             <h2>Create user</h2>
             <p>
-              A temporary password will be generated and a reset link will be emailed automatically.
+              A 48-hour setup link will be generated. The mailbox will only be created after the user chooses a password through that link.
             </p>
           </div>
           <button type="button" className="ghost-button" onClick={onClose} disabled={busy}>

apps/web/src/pages/DashboardPage.tsx

@@ -55,10 +55,12 @@ export default function DashboardPage({
     try {
       const result = await onCreateUser(email);
       setCreateOpen(false);
-      setInlineMessage(
-        result.warning ??
-          `Mailbox created and reset email sent. Link expires at ${result.resetLinkExpiresAt}.`
-      );
+      setResetLinkData({
+        email: result.email,
+        resetLink: result.setupLink,
+        expiresAt: result.expiresAt
+      });
+      setInlineMessage(`Setup link generated for ${result.email}. The mailbox will be created only after the user sets a password.`);
     } finally {
       setModalBusy(false);
     }
@@ -199,6 +201,7 @@ export default function DashboardPage({
 
       {resetLinkData ? (
         <ResetLinkModal
+          variant="invite"
           email={resetLinkData.email}
           resetLink={resetLinkData.resetLink}
           expiresAt={resetLinkData.expiresAt}

apps/web/src/pages/ResetPasswordPage.tsx

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ type ResetPasswordPageProps = {
 
 export default function ResetPasswordPage({ token }: ResetPasswordPageProps) {
   const [status, setStatus] = useState<"loading" | "ready" | "invalid" | "done">("loading");
+  const [mode, setMode] = useState<"invite" | "reset">("reset");
   const [emailHint, setEmailHint] = useState("");
   const [expiresAt, setExpiresAt] = useState("");
   const [password, setPassword] = useState("");
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ export default function ResetPasswordPage({ token }: ResetPasswordPageProps) {
         if (cancelled) {
           return;
         }
+        setMode(result.mode);
         setEmailHint(result.emailHint);
         setExpiresAt(result.expiresAt);
         setStatus("ready");
@@ -73,15 +75,17 @@ export default function ResetPasswordPage({ token }: ResetPasswordPageProps) {
   return (
     <main className="auth-shell">
       <section className="auth-card">
-        <div className="eyebrow">Secure reset</div>
-        <h1>Choose a new mailbox password</h1>
+        <div className="eyebrow">{mode === "invite" ? "Mailbox setup" : "Secure reset"}</div>
+        <h1>{mode === "invite" ? "Create your mailbox password" : "Choose a new mailbox password"}</h1>
 
         {status === "loading" ? <p className="auth-copy">Checking your reset link…</p> : null}
 
         {status === "invalid" ? (
           <>
             <p className="auth-copy">
-              This link is no longer valid. Ask your administrator for a new reset email.
+              {mode === "invite"
+                ? "This setup link is no longer valid. Ask your administrator for a new setup link."
+                : "This link is no longer valid. Ask your administrator for a new reset link."}
             </p>
             {error ? <p className="form-error">{error}</p> : null}
           </>
@@ -89,14 +93,18 @@ export default function ResetPasswordPage({ token }: ResetPasswordPageProps) {
 
         {status === "done" ? (
           <p className="notice success">
-            Your mailbox password has been updated. You can close this page and sign in with the new password.
+            {mode === "invite"
+              ? "Your mailbox has been created. You can close this page and sign in with the password you just chose."
+              : "Your mailbox password has been updated. You can close this page and sign in with the new password."}
           </p>
         ) : null}
 
         {status === "ready" ? (
           <>
             <p className="auth-copy">
-              Resetting the password for <strong>{emailHint}</strong>. This link expires at {expiresAt}.
+              {mode === "invite"
+                ? <>Creating the mailbox for <strong>{emailHint}</strong>. This setup link expires at {expiresAt}.</>
+                : <>Resetting the password for <strong>{emailHint}</strong>. This link expires at {expiresAt}.</>}
             </p>
 
             <form className="stack" onSubmit={handleSubmit}>

packages/shared/src/index.ts

@@ -22,10 +22,9 @@ export type CreateUserRequest = {
 };
 
 export type CreateUserResponse = {
-  user: MailUser;
-  resetLinkSent: boolean;
-  resetLinkExpiresAt: string | null;
-  warning: string | null;
+  email: string;
+  setupLink: string;
+  expiresAt: string;
 };
 
 export type LoginRequest = {
@@ -42,6 +41,7 @@ export type PasswordResetInspectRequest = {
 };
 
 export type PasswordResetInspectResponse = {
+  mode: "invite" | "reset";
   emailHint: string;
   expiresAt: string;
 };