Drop support for delegating email validation (#13192)

* Drop support for delegating email validation

Delegating email validation to an IS is insecure (since it allows the owner of
the IS to do a password reset on your HS), and has long been deprecated. It
will now cause a config error at startup.

* Update unit test which checks for email verification

Give it an `email` config instead of a threepid delegate

* Remove unused method `requestEmailToken`

* Simplify config handling for email verification

Rather than an enum and a boolean, all we need here is a single bool, which
says whether we are or are not doing email verification.

* update docs

* changelog

* upgrade.md: fix typo

* update version number

this will be in 1.64, not 1.63

* update version number

this one too

13 files changed, 110 insertions, 253 deletions

diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
index 4071f973de..bcf9fae4a5 100644
--- a/CHANGES.md
+++ b/CHANGES.md
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+Synapse vNext
+=============
+
+As of this release, Synapse no longer allows the tasks of verifying email address ownership, and password reset confirmation, to be delegated to an identity server. For more information, see the [upgrade notes](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/blob/release-v1.63/docs/upgrade.md#upgrading-to-v1630).
+
 Synapse 1.63.0rc1 (2022-07-12)
 ==============================
 
@@ -73,7 +78,6 @@ Internal Changes
 - More aggressively rotate push actions. ([\#13211](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/13211))
 - Add `max_line_length` setting for Python files to the `.editorconfig`. Contributed by @sumnerevans @ Beeper. ([\#13228](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/13228))
 
-
 Synapse 1.62.0 (2022-07-05)
 ===========================
 
@@ -81,7 +85,6 @@ No significant changes since 1.62.0rc3.
 
 Authors of spam-checker plugins should consult the [upgrade notes](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/blob/release-v1.62/docs/upgrade.md#upgrading-to-v1620) to learn about the enriched signatures for spam checker callbacks, which are supported with this release of Synapse.
 
-
 Synapse 1.62.0rc3 (2022-07-04)
 ==============================
 
diff --git a/changelog.d/13192.removal b/changelog.d/13192.removal
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a7dffd1c48
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/13192.removal
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Drop support for delegating email verification to an external server.
diff --git a/docs/upgrade.md b/docs/upgrade.md
index 312f0b87fe..3aaeb499ce 100644
--- a/docs/upgrade.md
+++ b/docs/upgrade.md
@@ -89,6 +89,21 @@ process, for example:
     dpkg -i matrix-synapse-py3_1.3.0+stretch1_amd64.deb
     ```
 
+# Upgrading to v1.64.0
+
+## Delegation of email validation no longer supported
+
+As of this version, Synapse no longer allows the tasks of verifying email address
+ownership, and password reset confirmation, to be delegated to an identity server.
+
+To continue to allow users to add email addresses to their homeserver accounts,
+and perform password resets, make sure that Synapse is configured with a
+working email server in the `email` configuration section (including, at a
+minimum, a `notif_from` setting.)
+
+Specifying an `email` setting under `account_threepid_delegates` will now cause
+an error at startup.
+
 # Upgrading to v1.62.0
 
 ## New signatures for spam checker callbacks
diff --git a/docs/usage/configuration/config_documentation.md b/docs/usage/configuration/config_documentation.md
index 5deabb53d7..5fe502e33a 100644
--- a/docs/usage/configuration/config_documentation.md
+++ b/docs/usage/configuration/config_documentation.md
@@ -2168,30 +2168,26 @@ default_identity_server: https://matrix.org
 ---
 ### `account_threepid_delegates`
 
-Handle threepid (email/phone etc) registration and password resets through a set of
-*trusted* identity servers. Note that this allows the configured identity server to
-reset passwords for accounts!
+Delegate verification of phone numbers to an identity server.
 
-Be aware that if `email` is not set, and SMTP options have not been
-configured in the email config block, registration and user password resets via
-email will be globally disabled.
+When a user wishes to add a phone number to their account, we need to verify that they
+actually own that phone number, which requires sending them a text message (SMS).
+Currently Synapse does not support sending those texts itself and instead delegates the
+task to an identity server. The base URI for the identity server to be used is
+specified by the `account_threepid_delegates.msisdn` option.
 
-Additionally, if `msisdn` is not set, registration and password resets via msisdn
-will be disabled regardless, and users will not be able to associate an msisdn
-identifier to their account. This is due to Synapse currently not supporting
-any method of sending SMS messages on its own.
+If this is left unspecified, Synapse will not allow users to add phone numbers to
+their account.
 
-To enable using an identity server for operations regarding a particular third-party
-identifier type, set the value to the URL of that identity server as shown in the
-examples below.
+(Servers handling the these requests must answer the `/requestToken` endpoints defined
+by the Matrix Identity Service API
+[specification](https://matrix.org/docs/spec/identity_service/latest).)
 
-Servers handling the these requests must answer the `/requestToken` endpoints defined
-by the Matrix Identity Service API [specification](https://matrix.org/docs/spec/identity_service/latest).
+*Updated in Synapse 1.64.0*: No longer accepts an `email` option.
 
 Example configuration:
 ```yaml
 account_threepid_delegates:
-    email: https://example.com     # Delegate email sending to example.com
     msisdn: http://localhost:8090  # Delegate SMS sending to this local process
 ```
 ---
diff --git a/synapse/app/homeserver.py b/synapse/app/homeserver.py
index 745e704141..6bafa7d3f3 100644
--- a/synapse/app/homeserver.py
+++ b/synapse/app/homeserver.py
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@ from synapse.app._base import (
     register_start,
 )
 from synapse.config._base import ConfigError, format_config_error
-from synapse.config.emailconfig import ThreepidBehaviour
 from synapse.config.homeserver import HomeServerConfig
 from synapse.config.server import ListenerConfig
 from synapse.federation.transport.server import TransportLayerServer
@@ -202,7 +201,7 @@ class SynapseHomeServer(HomeServer):
                 }
             )
 
-            if self.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.LOCAL:
+            if self.config.email.can_verify_email:
                 from synapse.rest.synapse.client.password_reset import (
                     PasswordResetSubmitTokenResource,
                 )
diff --git a/synapse/config/emailconfig.py b/synapse/config/emailconfig.py
index 6e11fbdb9a..3ead80d985 100644
--- a/synapse/config/emailconfig.py
+++ b/synapse/config/emailconfig.py
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@
 import email.utils
 import logging
 import os
-from enum import Enum
 from typing import Any
 
 import attr
@@ -131,41 +130,22 @@ class EmailConfig(Config):
 
         self.email_enable_notifs = email_config.get("enable_notifs", False)
 
-        self.threepid_behaviour_email = (
-            # Have Synapse handle the email sending if account_threepid_delegates.email
-            # is not defined
-            # msisdn is currently always remote while Synapse does not support any method of
-            # sending SMS messages
-            ThreepidBehaviour.REMOTE
-            if self.root.registration.account_threepid_delegate_email
-            else ThreepidBehaviour.LOCAL
-        )
-
         if config.get("trust_identity_server_for_password_resets"):
             raise ConfigError(
                 'The config option "trust_identity_server_for_password_resets" '
-                'has been replaced by "account_threepid_delegate". '
-                "Please consult the configuration manual at docs/usage/configuration/config_documentation.md for "
-                "details and update your config file."
+                "is no longer supported. Please remove it from the config file."
             )
 
-        self.local_threepid_handling_disabled_due_to_email_config = False
-        if (
-            self.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.LOCAL
-            and email_config == {}
-        ):
-            # We cannot warn the user this has happened here
-            # Instead do so when a user attempts to reset their password
-            self.local_threepid_handling_disabled_due_to_email_config = True
-
-            self.threepid_behaviour_email = ThreepidBehaviour.OFF
+        # If we have email config settings, assume that we can verify ownership of
+        # email addresses.
+        self.can_verify_email = email_config != {}
 
         # Get lifetime of a validation token in milliseconds
         self.email_validation_token_lifetime = self.parse_duration(
             email_config.get("validation_token_lifetime", "1h")
         )
 
-        if self.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.LOCAL:
+        if self.can_verify_email:
             missing = []
             if not self.email_notif_from:
                 missing.append("email.notif_from")
@@ -356,18 +336,3 @@ class EmailConfig(Config):
                     "Config option email.invite_client_location must be a http or https URL",
                     path=("email", "invite_client_location"),
                 )
-
-
-class ThreepidBehaviour(Enum):
-    """
-    Enum to define the behaviour of Synapse with regards to when it contacts an identity
-    server for 3pid registration and password resets
-
-    REMOTE = use an external server to send tokens
-    LOCAL = send tokens ourselves
-    OFF = disable registration via 3pid and password resets
-    """
-
-    REMOTE = "remote"
-    LOCAL = "local"
-    OFF = "off"
diff --git a/synapse/config/registration.py b/synapse/config/registration.py
index fcf99be092..685a0423c5 100644
--- a/synapse/config/registration.py
+++ b/synapse/config/registration.py
@@ -20,6 +20,13 @@ from synapse.config._base import Config, ConfigError
 from synapse.types import JsonDict, RoomAlias, UserID
 from synapse.util.stringutils import random_string_with_symbols, strtobool
 
+NO_EMAIL_DELEGATE_ERROR = """\
+Delegation of email verification to an identity server is no longer supported. To
+continue to allow users to add email addresses to their accounts, and use them for
+password resets, configure Synapse with an SMTP server via the `email` setting, and
+remove `account_threepid_delegates.email`.
+"""
+
 
 class RegistrationConfig(Config):
     section = "registration"
@@ -51,7 +58,9 @@ class RegistrationConfig(Config):
         self.bcrypt_rounds = config.get("bcrypt_rounds", 12)
 
         account_threepid_delegates = config.get("account_threepid_delegates") or {}
-        self.account_threepid_delegate_email = account_threepid_delegates.get("email")
+        if "email" in account_threepid_delegates:
+            raise ConfigError(NO_EMAIL_DELEGATE_ERROR)
+        # self.account_threepid_delegate_email = account_threepid_delegates.get("email")
         self.account_threepid_delegate_msisdn = account_threepid_delegates.get("msisdn")
         self.default_identity_server = config.get("default_identity_server")
         self.allow_guest_access = config.get("allow_guest_access", False)
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/identity.py b/synapse/handlers/identity.py
index 9bca2bc4b2..c70fdcc85e 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/identity.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/identity.py
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ from synapse.api.errors import (
     SynapseError,
 )
 from synapse.api.ratelimiting import Ratelimiter
-from synapse.config.emailconfig import ThreepidBehaviour
 from synapse.http import RequestTimedOutError
 from synapse.http.client import SimpleHttpClient
 from synapse.http.site import SynapseRequest
@@ -434,48 +433,6 @@ class IdentityHandler:
 
         return session_id
 
-    async def requestEmailToken(
-        self,
-        id_server: str,
-        email: str,
-        client_secret: str,
-        send_attempt: int,
-        next_link: Optional[str] = None,
-    ) -> JsonDict:
-        """
-        Request an external server send an email on our behalf for the purposes of threepid
-        validation.
-
-        Args:
-            id_server: The identity server to proxy to
-            email: The email to send the message to
-            client_secret: The unique client_secret sends by the user
-            send_attempt: Which attempt this is
-            next_link: A link to redirect the user to once they submit the token
-
-        Returns:
-            The json response body from the server
-        """
-        params = {
-            "email": email,
-            "client_secret": client_secret,
-            "send_attempt": send_attempt,
-        }
-        if next_link:
-            params["next_link"] = next_link
-
-        try:
-            data = await self.http_client.post_json_get_json(
-                id_server + "/_matrix/identity/api/v1/validate/email/requestToken",
-                params,
-            )
-            return data
-        except HttpResponseException as e:
-            logger.info("Proxied requestToken failed: %r", e)
-            raise e.to_synapse_error()
-        except RequestTimedOutError:
-            raise SynapseError(500, "Timed out contacting identity server")
-
     async def requestMsisdnToken(
         self,
         id_server: str,
@@ -549,18 +506,7 @@ class IdentityHandler:
         validation_session = None
 
         # Try to validate as email
-        if self.hs.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.REMOTE:
-            # Remote emails will only be used if a valid identity server is provided.
-            assert (
-                self.hs.config.registration.account_threepid_delegate_email is not None
-            )
-
-            # Ask our delegated email identity server
-            validation_session = await self.threepid_from_creds(
-                self.hs.config.registration.account_threepid_delegate_email,
-                threepid_creds,
-            )
-        elif self.hs.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.LOCAL:
+        if self.hs.config.email.can_verify_email:
             # Get a validated session matching these details
             validation_session = await self.store.get_threepid_validation_session(
                 "email", client_secret, sid=sid, validated=True
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/ui_auth/checkers.py b/synapse/handlers/ui_auth/checkers.py
index 05cebb5d4d..a744d68c64 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/ui_auth/checkers.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/ui_auth/checkers.py
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ from twisted.web.client import PartialDownloadError
 
 from synapse.api.constants import LoginType
 from synapse.api.errors import Codes, LoginError, SynapseError
-from synapse.config.emailconfig import ThreepidBehaviour
 from synapse.util import json_decoder
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -153,7 +152,7 @@ class _BaseThreepidAuthChecker:
 
         logger.info("Getting validated threepid. threepidcreds: %r", (threepid_creds,))
 
-        # msisdns are currently always ThreepidBehaviour.REMOTE
+        # msisdns are currently always verified via the IS
         if medium == "msisdn":
             if not self.hs.config.registration.account_threepid_delegate_msisdn:
                 raise SynapseError(
@@ -164,18 +163,7 @@ class _BaseThreepidAuthChecker:
                 threepid_creds,
             )
         elif medium == "email":
-            if (
-                self.hs.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email
-                == ThreepidBehaviour.REMOTE
-            ):
-                assert self.hs.config.registration.account_threepid_delegate_email
-                threepid = await identity_handler.threepid_from_creds(
-                    self.hs.config.registration.account_threepid_delegate_email,
-                    threepid_creds,
-                )
-            elif (
-                self.hs.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.LOCAL
-            ):
+            if self.hs.config.email.can_verify_email:
                 threepid = None
                 row = await self.store.get_threepid_validation_session(
                     medium,
@@ -227,10 +215,7 @@ class EmailIdentityAuthChecker(UserInteractiveAuthChecker, _BaseThreepidAuthChec
         _BaseThreepidAuthChecker.__init__(self, hs)
 
     def is_enabled(self) -> bool:
-        return self.hs.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email in (
-            ThreepidBehaviour.REMOTE,
-            ThreepidBehaviour.LOCAL,
-        )
+        return self.hs.config.email.can_verify_email
 
     async def check_auth(self, authdict: dict, clientip: str) -> Any:
         return await self._check_threepid("email", authdict)
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/account.py b/synapse/rest/client/account.py
index bdc4a9c068..19c2da4244 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/account.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/account.py
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ from synapse.api.errors import (
     SynapseError,
     ThreepidValidationError,
 )
-from synapse.config.emailconfig import ThreepidBehaviour
 from synapse.handlers.ui_auth import UIAuthSessionDataConstants
 from synapse.http.server import HttpServer, finish_request, respond_with_html
 from synapse.http.servlet import (
@@ -64,7 +63,7 @@ class EmailPasswordRequestTokenRestServlet(RestServlet):
         self.config = hs.config
         self.identity_handler = hs.get_identity_handler()
 
-        if self.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.LOCAL:
+        if self.config.email.can_verify_email:
             self.mailer = Mailer(
                 hs=self.hs,
                 app_name=self.config.email.email_app_name,
@@ -73,11 +72,10 @@ class EmailPasswordRequestTokenRestServlet(RestServlet):
             )
 
     async def on_POST(self, request: SynapseRequest) -> Tuple[int, JsonDict]:
-        if self.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.OFF:
-            if self.config.email.local_threepid_handling_disabled_due_to_email_config:
-                logger.warning(
-                    "User password resets have been disabled due to lack of email config"
-                )
+        if not self.config.email.can_verify_email:
+            logger.warning(
+                "User password resets have been disabled due to lack of email config"
+            )
             raise SynapseError(
                 400, "Email-based password resets have been disabled on this server"
             )
@@ -129,35 +127,21 @@ class EmailPasswordRequestTokenRestServlet(RestServlet):
 
             raise SynapseError(400, "Email not found", Codes.THREEPID_NOT_FOUND)
 
-        if self.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.REMOTE:
-            assert self.hs.config.registration.account_threepid_delegate_email
-
-            # Have the configured identity server handle the request
-            ret = await self.identity_handler.requestEmailToken(
-                self.hs.config.registration.account_threepid_delegate_email,
-                email,
-                client_secret,
-                send_attempt,
-                next_link,
-            )
-        else:
-            # Send password reset emails from Synapse
-            sid = await self.identity_handler.send_threepid_validation(
-                email,
-                client_secret,
-                send_attempt,
-                self.mailer.send_password_reset_mail,
-                next_link,
-            )
-
-            # Wrap the session id in a JSON object
-            ret = {"sid": sid}
+        # Send password reset emails from Synapse
+        sid = await self.identity_handler.send_threepid_validation(
+            email,
+            client_secret,
+            send_attempt,
+            self.mailer.send_password_reset_mail,
+            next_link,
+        )
 
         threepid_send_requests.labels(type="email", reason="password_reset").observe(
             send_attempt
         )
 
-        return 200, ret
+        # Wrap the session id in a JSON object
+        return 200, {"sid": sid}
 
 
 class PasswordRestServlet(RestServlet):
@@ -349,7 +333,7 @@ class EmailThreepidRequestTokenRestServlet(RestServlet):
         self.identity_handler = hs.get_identity_handler()
         self.store = self.hs.get_datastores().main
 
-        if self.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.LOCAL:
+        if self.config.email.can_verify_email:
             self.mailer = Mailer(
                 hs=self.hs,
                 app_name=self.config.email.email_app_name,
@@ -358,11 +342,10 @@ class EmailThreepidRequestTokenRestServlet(RestServlet):
             )
 
     async def on_POST(self, request: SynapseRequest) -> Tuple[int, JsonDict]:
-        if self.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.OFF:
-            if self.config.email.local_threepid_handling_disabled_due_to_email_config:
-                logger.warning(
-                    "Adding emails have been disabled due to lack of an email config"
-                )
+        if not self.config.email.can_verify_email:
+            logger.warning(
+                "Adding emails have been disabled due to lack of an email config"
+            )
             raise SynapseError(
                 400, "Adding an email to your account is disabled on this server"
             )
@@ -413,35 +396,20 @@ class EmailThreepidRequestTokenRestServlet(RestServlet):
 
             raise SynapseError(400, "Email is already in use", Codes.THREEPID_IN_USE)
 
-        if self.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.REMOTE:
-            assert self.hs.config.registration.account_threepid_delegate_email
-
-            # Have the configured identity server handle the request
-            ret = await self.identity_handler.requestEmailToken(
-                self.hs.config.registration.account_threepid_delegate_email,
-                email,
-                client_secret,
-                send_attempt,
-                next_link,
-            )
-        else:
-            # Send threepid validation emails from Synapse
-            sid = await self.identity_handler.send_threepid_validation(
-                email,
-                client_secret,
-                send_attempt,
-                self.mailer.send_add_threepid_mail,
-                next_link,
-            )
-
-            # Wrap the session id in a JSON object
-            ret = {"sid": sid}
+        sid = await self.identity_handler.send_threepid_validation(
+            email,
+            client_secret,
+            send_attempt,
+            self.mailer.send_add_threepid_mail,
+            next_link,
+        )
 
         threepid_send_requests.labels(type="email", reason="add_threepid").observe(
             send_attempt
         )
 
-        return 200, ret
+        # Wrap the session id in a JSON object
+        return 200, {"sid": sid}
 
 
 class MsisdnThreepidRequestTokenRestServlet(RestServlet):
@@ -534,25 +502,18 @@ class AddThreepidEmailSubmitTokenServlet(RestServlet):
         self.config = hs.config
         self.clock = hs.get_clock()
         self.store = hs.get_datastores().main
-        if self.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.LOCAL:
+        if self.config.email.can_verify_email:
             self._failure_email_template = (
                 self.config.email.email_add_threepid_template_failure_html
             )
 
     async def on_GET(self, request: Request) -> None:
-        if self.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.OFF:
-            if self.config.email.local_threepid_handling_disabled_due_to_email_config:
-                logger.warning(
-                    "Adding emails have been disabled due to lack of an email config"
-                )
-            raise SynapseError(
-                400, "Adding an email to your account is disabled on this server"
+        if not self.config.email.can_verify_email:
+            logger.warning(
+                "Adding emails have been disabled due to lack of an email config"
             )
-        elif self.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.REMOTE:
             raise SynapseError(
-                400,
-                "This homeserver is not validating threepids. Use an identity server "
-                "instead.",
+                400, "Adding an email to your account is disabled on this server"
             )
 
         sid = parse_string(request, "sid", required=True)
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/register.py b/synapse/rest/client/register.py
index e8e51a9c66..a8402cdb3a 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/register.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/register.py
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ from synapse.api.errors import (
 )
 from synapse.api.ratelimiting import Ratelimiter
 from synapse.config import ConfigError
-from synapse.config.emailconfig import ThreepidBehaviour
 from synapse.config.homeserver import HomeServerConfig
 from synapse.config.ratelimiting import FederationRateLimitConfig
 from synapse.config.server import is_threepid_reserved
@@ -74,7 +73,7 @@ class EmailRegisterRequestTokenRestServlet(RestServlet):
         self.identity_handler = hs.get_identity_handler()
         self.config = hs.config
 
-        if self.hs.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.LOCAL:
+        if self.hs.config.email.can_verify_email:
             self.mailer = Mailer(
                 hs=self.hs,
                 app_name=self.config.email.email_app_name,
@@ -83,13 +82,10 @@ class EmailRegisterRequestTokenRestServlet(RestServlet):
             )
 
     async def on_POST(self, request: SynapseRequest) -> Tuple[int, JsonDict]:
-        if self.hs.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.OFF:
-            if (
-                self.hs.config.email.local_threepid_handling_disabled_due_to_email_config
-            ):
-                logger.warning(
-                    "Email registration has been disabled due to lack of email config"
-                )
+        if not self.hs.config.email.can_verify_email:
+            logger.warning(
+                "Email registration has been disabled due to lack of email config"
+            )
             raise SynapseError(
                 400, "Email-based registration has been disabled on this server"
             )
@@ -138,35 +134,21 @@ class EmailRegisterRequestTokenRestServlet(RestServlet):
 
             raise SynapseError(400, "Email is already in use", Codes.THREEPID_IN_USE)
 
-        if self.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.REMOTE:
-            assert self.hs.config.registration.account_threepid_delegate_email
-
-            # Have the configured identity server handle the request
-            ret = await self.identity_handler.requestEmailToken(
-                self.hs.config.registration.account_threepid_delegate_email,
-                email,
-                client_secret,
-                send_attempt,
-                next_link,
-            )
-        else:
-            # Send registration emails from Synapse
-            sid = await self.identity_handler.send_threepid_validation(
-                email,
-                client_secret,
-                send_attempt,
-                self.mailer.send_registration_mail,
-                next_link,
-            )
-
-            # Wrap the session id in a JSON object
-            ret = {"sid": sid}
+        # Send registration emails from Synapse
+        sid = await self.identity_handler.send_threepid_validation(
+            email,
+            client_secret,
+            send_attempt,
+            self.mailer.send_registration_mail,
+            next_link,
+        )
 
         threepid_send_requests.labels(type="email", reason="register").observe(
             send_attempt
         )
 
-        return 200, ret
+        # Wrap the session id in a JSON object
+        return 200, {"sid": sid}
 
 
 class MsisdnRegisterRequestTokenRestServlet(RestServlet):
@@ -260,7 +242,7 @@ class RegistrationSubmitTokenServlet(RestServlet):
         self.clock = hs.get_clock()
         self.store = hs.get_datastores().main
 
-        if self.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.LOCAL:
+        if self.config.email.can_verify_email:
             self._failure_email_template = (
                 self.config.email.email_registration_template_failure_html
             )
@@ -270,11 +252,10 @@ class RegistrationSubmitTokenServlet(RestServlet):
             raise SynapseError(
                 400, "This medium is currently not supported for registration"
             )
-        if self.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.OFF:
-            if self.config.email.local_threepid_handling_disabled_due_to_email_config:
-                logger.warning(
-                    "User registration via email has been disabled due to lack of email config"
-                )
+        if not self.config.email.can_verify_email:
+            logger.warning(
+                "User registration via email has been disabled due to lack of email config"
+            )
             raise SynapseError(
                 400, "Email-based registration is disabled on this server"
             )
diff --git a/synapse/rest/synapse/client/password_reset.py b/synapse/rest/synapse/client/password_reset.py
index 6ac9dbc7c9..b9402cfb75 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/synapse/client/password_reset.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/synapse/client/password_reset.py
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Tuple
 from twisted.web.server import Request
 
 from synapse.api.errors import ThreepidValidationError
-from synapse.config.emailconfig import ThreepidBehaviour
 from synapse.http.server import DirectServeHtmlResource
 from synapse.http.servlet import parse_string
 from synapse.util.stringutils import assert_valid_client_secret
@@ -46,9 +45,6 @@ class PasswordResetSubmitTokenResource(DirectServeHtmlResource):
         self.clock = hs.get_clock()
         self.store = hs.get_datastores().main
 
-        self._local_threepid_handling_disabled_due_to_email_config = (
-            hs.config.email.local_threepid_handling_disabled_due_to_email_config
-        )
         self._confirmation_email_template = (
             hs.config.email.email_password_reset_template_confirmation_html
         )
@@ -59,8 +55,8 @@ class PasswordResetSubmitTokenResource(DirectServeHtmlResource):
             hs.config.email.email_password_reset_template_failure_html
         )
 
-        # This resource should not be mounted if threepid behaviour is not LOCAL
-        assert hs.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.LOCAL
+        # This resource should only be mounted if email validation is enabled
+        assert hs.config.email.can_verify_email
 
     async def _async_render_GET(self, request: Request) -> Tuple[int, bytes]:
         sid = parse_string(request, "sid", required=True)
diff --git a/tests/rest/client/test_register.py b/tests/rest/client/test_register.py
index afb08b2736..cb27458746 100644
--- a/tests/rest/client/test_register.py
+++ b/tests/rest/client/test_register.py
@@ -592,9 +592,9 @@ class RegisterRestServletTestCase(unittest.HomeserverTestCase):
                 "require_at_registration": True,
             },
             "account_threepid_delegates": {
-                "email": "https://id_server",
                 "msisdn": "https://id_server",
             },
+            "email": {"notif_from": "Synapse <synapse@example.com>"},
         }
     )
     def test_advertised_flows_captcha_and_terms_and_3pids(self) -> None: