How to Configure and Send Email from Oracle Database Using UTL_MAIL (Oracle 11g, 12c, 18c, 19c, 21c & 23ai)

📅 Last Updated: August 2026

This guide has been completely updated for Oracle Database 11g, 12c, 18c, 19c, 21c, and Oracle Database 23ai. It explains how to configure the Oracle UTL_MAIL package, configure the SMTP server, grant the required privileges, configure Network ACLs, send emails from PL/SQL, troubleshoot common errors, and follow Oracle Database security best practices.

Email notifications play an essential role in enterprise Oracle Database environments. Organizations use database-generated emails to notify administrators of backup failures, tablespace alerts, blocking sessions, scheduled job completion, Data Guard status, RMAN results, application events, and business workflow notifications.

Oracle provides the UTL_MAIL package to simplify sending emails directly from PL/SQL programs. Compared to the lower-level UTL_SMTP package, UTL_MAIL offers a much simpler programming interface while still supporting plain text and HTML email messages.

However, simply installing UTL_MAIL is not enough. Modern Oracle Database releases require Network Access Control Lists (ACLs), SMTP configuration, package installation, and appropriate user privileges before email functionality can be used successfully.

This guide explains the complete Oracle email architecture, installation, configuration, security requirements, troubleshooting techniques, and production best practices for sending emails from Oracle Database.

Quick Solution

Install the UTL_MAIL package, configure the SMTP_OUT_SERVER initialization parameter, grant EXECUTE permission on UTL_MAIL, configure the required Network ACL permissions for the SMTP server, and test email delivery using the UTL_MAIL.SEND procedure.

What is UTL_MAIL?

UTL_MAIL is an Oracle-supplied PL/SQL package that enables Oracle Database to send email messages through an SMTP server.

It provides a simplified interface for sending emails directly from stored procedures, scheduled jobs, database triggers, monitoring scripts, and enterprise applications.

UTL_MAIL is commonly used for:

Database monitoring alerts
RMAN backup notifications
Oracle Data Guard monitoring
Scheduled job completion reports
Application workflow notifications
Error reporting
Business process automation
Security alerts

UTL_MAIL vs UTL_SMTP

Feature	UTL_MAIL	UTL_SMTP
Ease of Use	Very Easy	Advanced
Programming Complexity	Low	High
HTML Email	Supported	Supported
Attachments	Limited	Flexible
SMTP Command Control	No	Full Control
Recommended For	Most Applications	Advanced Email Solutions

How Oracle Sends Email

PL/SQL Program

       │

       ▼

UTL_MAIL Package

       │

       ▼

SMTP_OUT_SERVER

       │

       ▼

SMTP Mail Server

       │

       ▼

Recipient Mailbox

When a PL/SQL program calls the UTL_MAIL package, Oracle connects to the configured SMTP server, transfers the email message, and the mail server delivers it to the intended recipients.

Business Impact

Database-generated email notifications are widely used in enterprise production environments to improve operational visibility and reduce response time.

Typical production uses include:

RMAN backup success and failure notifications
Database startup and shutdown alerts
Tablespace usage alerts
ASM disk group monitoring
Data Guard synchronization monitoring
Scheduler job notifications
Security event reporting
Application workflow emails
Oracle E-Business Suite notifications

Oracle Email Architecture

Oracle Database

        │

        ▼

PL/SQL

        │

        ▼

UTL_MAIL

        │

        ▼

Network ACL

        │

        ▼

SMTP Server

        │

        ▼

Internet / Corporate Mail

        │

        ▼

Recipient

Network ACLs provide fine-grained security by controlling which database users are permitted to establish network connections to external SMTP servers.

SMTP Overview

SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is the standard protocol used for sending email messages across computer networks.

Oracle Database acts as an SMTP client while the organization's mail server receives and forwards outgoing email.

Common SMTP ports include:

Port	Purpose
25	Standard SMTP
465	SMTP over SSL
587	SMTP Submission (STARTTLS)

Many enterprise environments use an internal SMTP relay to securely forward emails generated by Oracle Database.

Understanding Network ACLs

Beginning with Oracle Database 11g, Oracle introduced Network Access Control Lists (ACLs) to enhance database security.

Even if UTL_MAIL is installed and the user has EXECUTE privileges, Oracle will block network access unless the appropriate ACL permissions have been granted for the target SMTP server.

This security mechanism helps prevent unauthorized PL/SQL code from connecting to external network services.

Prerequisites

Oracle Database 11g or later.
SYSDBA or DBA privileges for configuration.
Access to the Oracle Home directory.
A reachable SMTP server.
Network connectivity between the database server and the SMTP server.
Appropriate Network ACL permissions.
A database user authorized to send emails.

Before You Begin

Before configuring Oracle Database email functionality, collect the following information from your mail administrator:

SMTP server hostname or IP address
SMTP port number
Whether the server accepts unauthenticated relay from the database server
Firewall rules between the database server and the SMTP server
Approved sender email addresses
Corporate email relay requirements

Oracle DBA Recommendation

For production systems, avoid sending email directly to public SMTP servers. Instead, use an internal corporate SMTP relay that is approved by your organization's security team. Configure Network ACLs with the minimum required privileges and grant UTL_MAIL access only to trusted database users and applications.

Step 1 – Verify Whether UTL_MAIL Is Installed

Before configuring email functionality, verify whether the UTL_MAIL package is already installed in the database.

SELECT object_name,
       status
FROM   dba_objects
WHERE  object_name = 'UTL_MAIL';

If the package status is VALID, installation has already been completed.

Step 2 – Install the UTL_MAIL Package

If the package is not installed, connect to the database as SYSDBA and execute the Oracle-supplied installation scripts.

sqlplus / as sysdba

Run the installation scripts from the Oracle Home directory.

@?/rdbms/admin/utlmail.sql

@?/rdbms/admin/prvtmail.plb

These scripts create the UTL_MAIL package specification and body.

Step 3 – Configure SMTP_OUT_SERVER

Oracle Database must know which SMTP server will be used to deliver outgoing email.

Configure the initialization parameter:

ALTER SYSTEM SET smtp_out_server='mail.company.com'
SCOPE=BOTH;

Verify the parameter.

SHOW PARAMETER smtp_out_server

Step 4 – Grant EXECUTE Privilege

Grant permission to the application schema that will send email.

GRANT EXECUTE ON UTL_MAIL TO HR;

Replace HR with your application schema.

Step 5 – Configure Network ACL

Beginning with Oracle Database 11g, network connections are controlled through Access Control Lists (ACLs). Without the appropriate ACL privileges, email delivery will fail even if UTL_MAIL is installed correctly.

The following example grants the user HR permission to connect to the SMTP server mail.company.com on port 25.

BEGIN
  DBMS_NETWORK_ACL_ADMIN.APPEND_HOST_ACE(
    host => 'mail.company.com',
    lower_port => 25,
    upper_port => 25,
    ace => xs$ace_type(
      privilege_list => xs$name_list('connect'),
      principal_name => 'HR',
      principal_type => xs_acl.ptype_db
    )
  );
END;
/

Use the host name and port appropriate for your environment.

Step 6 – Verify Network Connectivity

Before testing email delivery, confirm that the database server can reach the SMTP server.

From the operating system, execute one of the following commands.

ping mail.company.com

telnet mail.company.com 25

A successful connection confirms that the SMTP server is reachable.

Step 7 – Send Your First Email

The following example sends a simple plain-text email.

BEGIN
  UTL_MAIL.SEND(
    sender     => 'oracle@company.com',
    recipients => 'dba@company.com',
    subject    => 'Oracle Database Email Test',
    message    => 'UTL_MAIL configuration completed successfully.'
  );
END;
/

If no errors occur, the email should be delivered successfully.

Step 8 – Send an HTML Email

UTL_MAIL can also send HTML-formatted messages.

BEGIN
  UTL_MAIL.SEND(
    sender        => 'oracle@company.com',
    recipients    => 'dba@company.com',
    subject       => 'Database Status',
    message       => 'Database Running Successfully',
    mime_type     => 'text/html; charset=UTF-8'
  );
END;
/

Step 9 – Multiple Recipients

Specify multiple recipients as a comma-separated list.

BEGIN
  UTL_MAIL.SEND(
    sender     => 'oracle@company.com',
    recipients => 'dba1@company.com,dba2@company.com',
    cc         => 'manager@company.com',
    bcc        => 'audit@company.com',
    subject    => 'Daily Database Report',
    message    => 'Daily health check completed successfully.'
  );
END;
/

Common Oracle Errors

Error	Possible Cause	Resolution
ORA-24247	Network access denied	Configure the required Network ACL.
ORA-29278	SMTP temporary error	Verify SMTP server availability.
ORA-29279	SMTP permanent error	Review SMTP configuration and sender permissions.
ORA-06512	PL/SQL execution error	Review the complete stack trace.
ORA-04063	Invalid package	Reinstall or recompile UTL_MAIL.

Troubleshooting Checklist

Verify that UTL_MAIL is installed and VALID.
Confirm SMTP_OUT_SERVER is configured correctly.
Grant EXECUTE on UTL_MAIL to the application user.
Configure the required Network ACL permissions.
Verify connectivity to the SMTP server.
Confirm the sender address is accepted by the SMTP relay.
Review alert logs and trace files if PL/SQL errors occur.
Test email delivery using a simple message before deploying production code.

Production Case Study

A production Oracle Database server was configured to send RMAN backup notifications using UTL_MAIL. Although the package had been installed and EXECUTE privileges were granted, every email attempt failed with ORA-24247: network access denied by access control list (ACL). Investigation revealed that the application schema lacked permission to connect to the corporate SMTP relay. After the required Network ACL was configured and SMTP connectivity was verified, backup notifications were delivered successfully to the DBA team, enabling proactive monitoring of nightly backup operations.

Oracle Database Security Considerations

Sending email directly from Oracle Database can be extremely useful, but it also introduces security considerations. Only trusted schemas should be granted permission to send email, and network access should be restricted using Oracle Network Access Control Lists (ACLs).

Follow the principle of least privilege by granting only the minimum permissions required for application functionality.

UTL_MAIL Limitations

Although UTL_MAIL is simple to use, it has several limitations that administrators should understand before deploying it in production.

Feature	UTL_MAIL
Simple Email	Supported
HTML Email	Supported
Multiple Recipients	Supported
Attachments	Basic Support
SMTP Authentication	Limited
TLS / STARTTLS	Not Directly Supported
Advanced MIME Handling	Limited

For environments that require authenticated SMTP, TLS/STARTTLS, or advanced MIME features, consider implementing a solution based on UTL_SMTP or using an approved internal SMTP relay.

Oracle DBA Best Practices

Use a dedicated internal SMTP relay for Oracle Database email.
Grant EXECUTE on UTL_MAIL only to trusted schemas.
Configure Network ACLs with the minimum required permissions.
Validate SMTP connectivity before deploying applications.
Use meaningful sender addresses for automated notifications.
Log email delivery attempts in application tables where appropriate.
Monitor Scheduler jobs that send email alerts.
Test email functionality after database upgrades and patching.
Protect sensitive information—avoid sending passwords or confidential data by email.
Document SMTP configuration as part of your database build and disaster recovery procedures.

Common Administrator Mistakes

Installing UTL_MAIL but forgetting to configure SMTP_OUT_SERVER.
Granting EXECUTE without configuring the required Network ACL.
Using an incorrect SMTP server or port.
Assuming the database server has network connectivity to the SMTP server.
Using sender addresses rejected by the mail relay.
Ignoring firewall rules between the database server and SMTP host.
Sending large volumes of email without monitoring relay limits.
Not validating package status after upgrades.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is UTL_MAIL installed by default?

No. In many Oracle Database installations, UTL_MAIL must be installed manually using the Oracle-supplied scripts before it can be used.

Why do I receive ORA-24247?

This error indicates that the database user does not have the required Network ACL permission to connect to the SMTP server.

Can UTL_MAIL send HTML emails?

Yes. Specify the appropriate MIME type (for example, text/html; charset=UTF-8) when sending the message.

Can UTL_MAIL send attachments?

UTL_MAIL provides basic attachment capabilities. For more advanced email formatting or complex MIME messages, UTL_SMTP offers greater flexibility.

Can Oracle Database send emails through Microsoft 365 or Gmail?

Modern cloud email services often require SMTP authentication and encrypted connections. Many organizations therefore configure an internal SMTP relay that accepts mail from the Oracle Database server and forwards it securely to external mail services.

About the Author

Rana Abdul Wahid is an Oracle Database and Oracle E-Business Suite Consultant with more than 15 years of experience in Oracle Database Administration, Oracle E-Business Suite Application DBA, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), Oracle RAC, Oracle Data Guard, RMAN Backup & Recovery, Linux/Unix Administration, MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server, PostgreSQL, and enterprise infrastructure management.

His areas of expertise include Oracle Database Security, Performance Tuning, Backup & Recovery, Oracle E-Business Suite administration, PL/SQL development, Linux system administration, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), and enterprise production support.

Learn more about the author →

Conclusion

The Oracle UTL_MAIL package provides a straightforward and reliable method for sending email directly from PL/SQL. By correctly installing the package, configuring the SMTP_OUT_SERVER parameter, granting the required privileges, and implementing Network ACLs, database administrators can automate alerts, reporting, and operational notifications across enterprise environments.

Following the security recommendations and best practices outlined in this guide will help ensure dependable email delivery, simplify database administration, and improve operational visibility while maintaining compliance with Oracle Database security standards.

Final Oracle DBA Recommendation

For production environments, configure a trusted internal SMTP relay, restrict network access using Oracle Network ACLs, regularly validate email functionality after database patching or upgrades, and audit all schemas that are permitted to send email. Combining secure configuration with routine monitoring ensures reliable and maintainable email notification services from Oracle Database.

Found this guide helpful? Explore more Oracle Database, PL/SQL, RMAN, Oracle E-Business Suite, Linux administration, and production troubleshooting articles in the Oracle Error Codes Guide.

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