Using Fail2ban with Dovecot
You can use syslogging by setting log_path to empty value.
[Definition]
failregex = (?: pop3-login|imap-login): .*(?:Authentication failure|Aborted login \(auth failed|Aborted login \(tried to use disabled|Disconnected \(auth failed|Aborted login \(\d+ authentication attempts).*rip=`<HOST>`[dovecot-pop3imap]
enabled = true
filter = dovecot-pop3imap
action = iptables-multiport[name=dovecot-pop3imap, port="pop3,imap", protocol=tcp]
logpath = /var/log/maillog
maxretry = 20
findtime = 1200
bantime = 1200(Set the logpath to wherever your syslog has been configured to log Dovecot's login messages.)