Terminally fail retrying deliveries with a non-retry target type (closes #82)

Restart recovery and the 60s retry sweep both looked an orphaned
`retrying` delivery's target up in the registry and silently returned
when it did not implement `rescheduler`. If a target's type was edited
from a retry type (`http`/`slack`) to a fire-and-forget type
(`database`/`log`) or an unknown one while a delivery was still
retrying, that delivery stayed `retrying` forever.

Both sites now hand the delivery to one shared helper,
`failUnretryableRetry`, which records a `DeliveryResult` naming the
current target type as the reason and marks the delivery `failed`. It
logs at warn, not error: this is operator-caused state, not a system
fault.

Re-dispatching under the new type was rejected as it would perform a
delivery the operator never asked for; the event itself stays in the
per-webhook event database, so manual redelivery can recover it
deliberately.

Fire-and-forget targets never set status `retrying` under normal
operation, so this path stays unreachable for them in practice.

README.md

@@ -92,27 +92,6 @@ TTY detection, and security headers are always applied.
 | `METRICS_USERNAME`      | Basic auth username for `/metrics`  | `""`     |
 | `METRICS_PASSWORD`      | Basic auth password for `/metrics`  | `""`     |
 | `SENTRY_DSN`            | Sentry error reporting DSN          | `""`     |
-| `SESSION_IDLE_TIMEOUT`  | Idle session timeout (Go duration)  | `24h`    |
-
-Sessions are bounded by two independent clocks, and end at whichever
-one runs out first:
-
-- **Idle expiry** (`SESSION_IDLE_TIMEOUT`, default `24h`) is a sliding
-  window. Every authenticated request pushes it forward, so a session
-  in continuous use never hits it, while an abandoned one expires a day
-  after its last use. Set it to `0` to disable idle expiry entirely;
-  the absolute cap below still applies. A set-but-unparseable value
-  aborts startup rather than silently falling back to the default.
-- **Absolute expiry** is a fixed 7 days from login. Activity does
-  **not** extend it: after a week, every session ends and the user
-  authenticates again.
-
-Only requests that authenticate with the session count as activity, so
-an unauthenticated request carrying the cookie cannot keep a session
-alive. The idle timestamp is rewritten at most once per tenth of the
-idle window rather than on every request, which means a session may
-expire up to 10% early relative to the user's true last request, but
-never late.
 
 On first startup, webhooker automatically generates a cryptographically
 secure session encryption key and stores it in the database. This key
@@ -657,6 +636,18 @@ This means:
    durable fallback that ensures no retry is permanently lost, even under
    extreme backpressure.
 
+**Changing a target's type does not migrate in-flight deliveries.** Only
+`http` and `slack` targets own durable retries; `database` and `log`
+targets are fire-and-forget and never produce a `retrying` delivery. If a
+target's `type` is edited from a retrying type to a non-retrying (or
+unknown) one while one of its deliveries is still `retrying`, both
+recovery paths above terminally mark that delivery `failed` and record a
+`DeliveryResult` naming the current target type as the reason, logging it
+at warn level. The delivery is not re-dispatched under the new type — the
+operator never asked for that delivery — and the event itself remains
+stored in the per-webhook event database, so it can be redelivered
+manually.
+
 ### Circuit Breaker (HTTP Targets with Retries)
 
 HTTP targets with `max_retries` > 0 are protected by a **per-target circuit breaker** that

TODO.md

@@ -28,10 +28,10 @@ databases currently grow without bound.
 
 # Completed Steps
 
-- 2026-08-09 Inactivity-based session timeout: sliding idle expiry
-  (`SESSION_IDLE_TIMEOUT`, default `24h`) refreshed on authenticated
-  requests, with the 7-day absolute cap kept as an independent
-  backstop that activity never extends (#66)
+- 2026-08-09 Restart recovery and the 60s retry sweep terminally fail an
+  orphaned `retrying` delivery whose target type no longer supports
+  retries, recording a `DeliveryResult` with the reason instead of
+  leaving the delivery stuck forever (#82)
 - 2026-08-07 Update golangci-lint to v2.12.2 (Docker image digest in
   `Dockerfile`, release-archive sha256 pins in `script/bootstrap`),
   adopt the canonical `.golangci.yml` (v2 `linters.settings` layout so
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ databases currently grow without bound.
     - event redelivery endpoint
     - OpenAPI specification
 - Analytics dashboard: success rates, response times, volume
-- A remember-me option at login
+- Session expiration tuning and a remember-me option
 - Password change and reset flow
 - Later, nice to have
     - email delivery target type

internal/config/config.go

@@ -31,10 +31,6 @@ const (
 	// defaultRetentionSweepInterval is how often the retention
 	// reaper deletes events older than each webhook's RetentionDays.
 	defaultRetentionSweepInterval = time.Hour
-
-	// defaultSessionIdleTimeout is how long a session may go without
-	// authenticated activity before it expires.
-	defaultSessionIdleTimeout = 24 * time.Hour
 )
 
 // ErrInvalidEnvironment is returned when WEBHOOKER_ENVIRONMENT
@@ -64,10 +60,6 @@ type Config struct {
 	// RetentionSweepInterval is how often the retention reaper runs.
 	RetentionSweepInterval time.Duration
 
-	// SessionIdleTimeout is the sliding inactivity window after
-	// which a session expires. Non-positive disables idle expiry.
-	SessionIdleTimeout time.Duration
-
 	params *ConfigParams
 	log    *slog.Logger
 }
@@ -170,15 +162,6 @@ func New(lc fx.Lifecycle, params ConfigParams) (*Config, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	// Same fail-loud treatment for the session idle timeout.
-	sessionIdleTimeout, err := envDuration(
-		"SESSION_IDLE_TIMEOUT",
-		defaultSessionIdleTimeout,
-	)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
 	// Load configuration values from environment variables
 	s := &Config{
 		DataDir:                envString("DATA_DIR"),
@@ -190,7 +173,6 @@ func New(lc fx.Lifecycle, params ConfigParams) (*Config, error) {
 		Port:                   envInt("PORT", defaultPort),
 		SentryDSN:              envString("SENTRY_DSN"),
 		RetentionSweepInterval: retentionSweepInterval,
-		SessionIdleTimeout:     sessionIdleTimeout,
 		log:                    log,
 		params:                 &params,
 	}

internal/config/config_test.go

@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ func TestRetentionSweepInterval(t *testing.T) {
 			}
 
 			if tt.expectError {
-				expectStartupError(t)
+				testRetentionSweepIntervalError(t)
 			} else {
 				testRetentionSweepIntervalSuccess(t, tt.expected)
 			}
@@ -171,9 +171,7 @@ func TestRetentionSweepInterval(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-// expectStartupError asserts that fx refuses to build the app,
-// which is what a set-but-unparseable duration must cause.
-func expectStartupError(t *testing.T) {
+func testRetentionSweepIntervalError(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Helper()
 
 	var cfg *config.Config
@@ -217,82 +215,6 @@ func testRetentionSweepIntervalSuccess(
 	assert.Equal(t, expected, cfg.RetentionSweepInterval)
 }
 
-func TestSessionIdleTimeout(t *testing.T) {
-	tests := []struct {
-		name        string
-		set         bool
-		value       string
-		expectError bool
-		expected    time.Duration
-	}{
-		{
-			name:     "unset uses default",
-			set:      false,
-			expected: 24 * time.Hour,
-		},
-		{
-			name:     "valid value is parsed",
-			set:      true,
-			value:    "30m",
-			expected: 30 * time.Minute,
-		},
-		{
-			name:        "unparseable value fails startup",
-			set:         true,
-			value:       "not-a-duration",
-			expectError: true,
-		},
-	}
-
-	for _, tt := range tests {
-		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			// Cannot use t.Parallel() here because t.Setenv
-			// is incompatible with parallel subtests.
-			t.Setenv("WEBHOOKER_ENVIRONMENT", "dev")
-
-			if tt.set {
-				t.Setenv("SESSION_IDLE_TIMEOUT", tt.value)
-			} else {
-				require.NoError(t, os.Unsetenv(
-					"SESSION_IDLE_TIMEOUT",
-				))
-			}
-
-			if tt.expectError {
-				expectStartupError(t)
-			} else {
-				testSessionIdleTimeoutSuccess(t, tt.expected)
-			}
-		})
-	}
-}
-
-func testSessionIdleTimeoutSuccess(
-	t *testing.T,
-	expected time.Duration,
-) {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	var cfg *config.Config
-
-	app := fxtest.New(
-		t,
-		fx.Provide(
-			globals.New,
-			logger.New,
-			config.New,
-		),
-		fx.Populate(&cfg),
-	)
-	require.NoError(t, app.Err())
-
-	app.RequireStart()
-
-	defer app.RequireStop()
-
-	assert.Equal(t, expected, cfg.SessionIdleTimeout)
-}
-
 func TestDefaultDataDir(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, env := range []string{"", "dev", "prod"} {
 		name := env

internal/delivery/engine.go

@@ -453,8 +453,9 @@ func (e *Engine) recoverRetryingDeliveries(
 // recoverSingleRetry hands an orphaned retrying delivery back
 // to its target to recompute the remaining backoff, then
 // reschedules it. Targets that do not own durable retries
-// (fire-and-forget) never produce retrying deliveries, so
-// they are skipped.
+// (fire-and-forget) never produce retrying deliveries, so a
+// delivery found in that state has had its target's type
+// changed underneath it and is terminally failed.
 func (e *Engine) recoverSingleRetry(
 	webhookDB *gorm.DB,
 	webhookID string,
@@ -475,6 +476,10 @@ func (e *Engine) recoverSingleRetry(
 
 	rs, ok := e.targets[target.Type].(rescheduler)
 	if !ok {
+		e.failUnretryableRetry(
+			webhookDB, webhookID, d, &target,
+		)
+
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -649,8 +654,8 @@ func (e *Engine) sweepWebhookRetries(
 
 // sweepSingleRetry re-enqueues an orphaned retrying delivery
 // whose backoff window has elapsed, delegating the backoff
-// decision to the delivery's target. Targets that do not own
-// durable retries are skipped.
+// decision to the delivery's target. A delivery whose target
+// no longer owns durable retries is terminally failed.
 func (e *Engine) sweepSingleRetry(
 	webhookDB *gorm.DB,
 	webhookID string,
@@ -670,6 +675,10 @@ func (e *Engine) sweepSingleRetry(
 
 	rs, ok := e.targets[target.Type].(rescheduler)
 	if !ok {
+		e.failUnretryableRetry(
+			webhookDB, webhookID, d, &target,
+		)
+
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -710,6 +719,59 @@ func (e *Engine) sweepSingleRetry(
 	}
 }
 
+// failUnretryableRetry terminally fails an orphaned retrying
+// delivery whose target type no longer supports retries. Both
+// restart recovery and the periodic sweep call it, so the
+// terminal transition exists once.
+//
+// This is only reachable when a target's type has been changed
+// out from under an in-flight retrying delivery (or the type is
+// unknown to the registry): fire-and-forget targets never set
+// status retrying themselves. Re-dispatching under the new type
+// would be a delivery the operator never asked for, and leaving
+// the row retrying strands it forever, so the delivery is
+// failed with a recorded reason and can be redelivered
+// manually. Logged at warn, not error: this is operator-caused
+// state, not a system fault.
+func (e *Engine) failUnretryableRetry(
+	webhookDB *gorm.DB,
+	webhookID string,
+	d *database.Delivery,
+	target *database.Target,
+) {
+	e.log.Warn(
+		"failing orphaned retrying delivery: target "+
+			"type no longer supports retries",
+		"webhook_id", webhookID,
+		"delivery_id", d.ID,
+		"target_id", target.ID,
+		"target_name", target.Name,
+		"target_type", target.Type,
+	)
+
+	reason := fmt.Sprintf(
+		"target type %q does not support retries; "+
+			"delivery was left retrying by a previous "+
+			"target type and has been failed terminally",
+		target.Type,
+	)
+
+	e.recordResult(
+		webhookDB,
+		d,
+		e.countAttempts(webhookDB, d.ID)+1,
+		false,
+		0,
+		"",
+		reason,
+		0,
+	)
+
+	e.updateDeliveryStatus(
+		webhookDB, d, database.DeliveryStatusFailed,
+	)
+}
+
 // processDelivery dispatches a delivery to the target that
 // owns its type. Unknown target types fail the delivery.
 func (e *Engine) processDelivery(

internal/delivery/engine_integration_test.go

@@ -748,6 +748,193 @@ func TestRecoverWebhookDeliveries_RetryingDeliveries(
 	case <-time.After(5 * time.Second):
 		t.Fatal("expected retry task from recovery")
 	}
+
+	// Regression guard: a target that still supports retries
+	// must be rescheduled, never terminally failed, and must
+	// not gain a synthetic result row.
+	iAssertStatus(
+		t, s.WebhookDB, d.ID,
+		database.DeliveryStatusRetrying,
+	)
+
+	assert.Len(t, iResults(t, s.WebhookDB, d.ID), 1)
+}
+
+// --- Retrying deliveries whose target type changed ---
+
+// iSeedRetryingWithType seeds a retrying delivery with one
+// recorded failed attempt against a target of the given type,
+// standing in for a target whose type was edited in the main
+// database while the delivery was still retrying.
+func iSeedRetryingWithType(
+	t *testing.T,
+	s iSetup,
+	targetType database.TargetType,
+) string {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	targetID := uuid.New().String()
+
+	iCreateTarget(t, s.MainDB, targetID,
+		s.WebhookID, "mutated-target", targetType,
+		iHTTPConfig("http://example.com/hook"), 5,
+	)
+
+	event := iSeedEvent(
+		t, s.WebhookDB, s.WebhookID,
+		`{"orphaned":"retry"}`,
+	)
+
+	d := iSeedDelivery(
+		t, s.WebhookDB, event.ID, targetID,
+		database.DeliveryStatusRetrying,
+	)
+
+	iSeedFailedResult(t, s.WebhookDB, d.ID)
+
+	return d.ID
+}
+
+// iResults loads a delivery's results in attempt order.
+func iResults(
+	t *testing.T, db *gorm.DB, deliveryID string,
+) []database.DeliveryResult {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	var results []database.DeliveryResult
+
+	require.NoError(t, db.
+		Where("delivery_id = ?", deliveryID).
+		Order("attempt_num").
+		Find(&results).Error)
+
+	return results
+}
+
+// iAssertTerminallyFailed asserts the delivery ended failed
+// with a result row recording why, and was not rescheduled.
+func iAssertTerminallyFailed(
+	t *testing.T,
+	s iSetup,
+	deliveryID string,
+	targetType database.TargetType,
+) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	iAssertStatus(
+		t, s.WebhookDB, deliveryID,
+		database.DeliveryStatusFailed,
+	)
+
+	results := iResults(t, s.WebhookDB, deliveryID)
+	require.Len(t, results, 2)
+
+	last := results[1]
+
+	assert.False(t, last.Success)
+	assert.Equal(t, 2, last.AttemptNum)
+
+	assert.Contains(
+		t, last.Error, string(targetType),
+	)
+
+	assert.Contains(
+		t, last.Error, "does not support retries",
+	)
+
+	assert.Empty(t, s.Engine.ExportRetryCh())
+}
+
+func TestRecoverSingleRetry_TypeNoLongerRetries(
+	t *testing.T,
+) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	s := newISetup(t)
+
+	iCreateWebhook(
+		t, s.MainDB, s.WebhookID, "mutated-type",
+	)
+
+	deliveryID := iSeedRetryingWithType(
+		t, s, database.TargetTypeLog,
+	)
+
+	s.Engine.ExportRecoverWebhookDeliveries(
+		context.Background(), s.WebhookID,
+	)
+
+	iAssertTerminallyFailed(
+		t, s, deliveryID, database.TargetTypeLog,
+	)
+}
+
+func TestSweepSingleRetry_TypeNoLongerRetries(
+	t *testing.T,
+) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	s := newISetup(t)
+
+	iCreateWebhook(
+		t, s.MainDB, s.WebhookID, "mutated-type-sweep",
+	)
+
+	deliveryID := iSeedRetryingWithType(
+		t, s, database.TargetTypeDatabase,
+	)
+
+	s.Engine.ExportSweepWebhookRetries(
+		context.Background(), s.WebhookID,
+	)
+
+	iAssertTerminallyFailed(
+		t, s, deliveryID, database.TargetTypeDatabase,
+	)
+}
+
+func TestRecoverSingleRetry_UnknownTargetType(
+	t *testing.T,
+) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	s := newISetup(t)
+
+	iCreateWebhook(
+		t, s.MainDB, s.WebhookID, "unknown-type",
+	)
+
+	unknown := database.TargetType("not-a-target-type")
+
+	deliveryID := iSeedRetryingWithType(t, s, unknown)
+
+	s.Engine.ExportRecoverWebhookDeliveries(
+		context.Background(), s.WebhookID,
+	)
+
+	iAssertTerminallyFailed(t, s, deliveryID, unknown)
+}
+
+func TestSweepSingleRetry_UnknownTargetType(
+	t *testing.T,
+) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	s := newISetup(t)
+
+	iCreateWebhook(
+		t, s.MainDB, s.WebhookID, "unknown-type-sweep",
+	)
+
+	unknown := database.TargetType("not-a-target-type")
+
+	deliveryID := iSeedRetryingWithType(t, s, unknown)
+
+	s.Engine.ExportSweepWebhookRetries(
+		context.Background(), s.WebhookID,
+	)
+
+	iAssertTerminallyFailed(t, s, deliveryID, unknown)
 }
 
 // iSeedFailedResult creates a failed delivery result.

internal/delivery/export_test.go

@@ -188,6 +188,13 @@ func (e *Engine) ExportRecoverInFlight(
 	e.recoverInFlight(ctx)
 }
 
+// ExportSweepWebhookRetries exposes sweepWebhookRetries.
+func (e *Engine) ExportSweepWebhookRetries(
+	ctx context.Context, webhookID string,
+) {
+	e.sweepWebhookRetries(ctx, webhookID)
+}
+
 // ExportStart exposes start for testing.
 func (e *Engine) ExportStart(ctx context.Context) {
 	e.start(ctx)

internal/middleware/middleware.go

@@ -186,10 +186,6 @@ func (s *Middleware) RequireAuth() func(http.Handler) http.Handler {
 				return
 			}
 
-			// IsAuthenticated also enforces both session expiry
-			// deadlines, so an idle-expired or absolutely-expired
-			// session lands here and is sent back to the login
-			// page.
 			if !s.session.IsAuthenticated(sess) {
 				s.log.Debug(
 					"auth middleware: unauthenticated request",
@@ -203,26 +199,6 @@ func (s *Middleware) RequireAuth() func(http.Handler) http.Handler {
 				return
 			}
 
-			// This request authenticated with the session, so it
-			// counts as activity: push the idle deadline forward.
-			// This is the only place sessions are refreshed, which
-			// is what keeps an unauthenticated request from
-			// extending someone else's session. Touch advances the
-			// idle clock only -- the absolute cap is untouched --
-			// and reports false when nothing changed, so most
-			// requests do not re-issue the cookie. Save before the
-			// handler runs, while the headers are still ours to
-			// write.
-			if s.session.Touch(sess) {
-				err = s.session.Save(r, w, sess)
-				if err != nil {
-					s.log.Error(
-						"auth middleware: failed to refresh session",
-						"error", err,
-					)
-				}
-			}
-
 			next.ServeHTTP(w, r)
 		})
 	}

internal/middleware/middleware_test.go

@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ import (
 	"net/http/httptest"
 	"os"
 	"testing"
-	"time"
 
 	"github.com/gorilla/sessions"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
@@ -29,22 +28,6 @@ func testMiddleware(
 ) (*middleware.Middleware, *session.Session) {
 	t.Helper()
 
-	m, s, _ := testMiddlewareWithSessionClock(t, env, 0, nil)
-
-	return m, s
-}
-
-// testMiddlewareWithSessionClock is testMiddleware with a
-// configurable session idle timeout and a manually advanced clock,
-// for the session-expiry tests. A nil clock uses the real one.
-func testMiddlewareWithSessionClock(
-	t *testing.T,
-	env string,
-	idleTimeout time.Duration,
-	clock *fakeClock,
-) (*middleware.Middleware, *session.Session, *fakeClock) {
-	t.Helper()
-
 	log := slog.New(slog.NewTextHandler(
 		os.Stderr,
 		&slog.HandlerOptions{Level: slog.LevelDebug},
@@ -52,7 +35,6 @@ func testMiddlewareWithSessionClock(
 
 	cfg := &config.Config{
 		Environment: env,
-		SessionIdleTimeout: idleTimeout,
 	}
 
 	// Create a real session manager with a known key
@@ -71,40 +53,11 @@ func testMiddlewareWithSessionClock(
 		SameSite: http.SameSiteLaxMode,
 	}
 
-	var now func() time.Time
-
-	if clock != nil {
-		now = clock.Now
-	}
-
-	sessManager := session.NewForTest(store, cfg, log, key, now)
+	sessManager := session.NewForTest(store, cfg, log, key)
 
 	m := middleware.NewForTest(log, cfg, sessManager)
 
-	return m, sessManager, clock
-}
-
-// fakeClock is a manually advanced clock, so session expiry can be
-// tested without sleeping.
-type fakeClock struct {
-	t time.Time
-}
-
-func (c *fakeClock) Now() time.Time {
-	return c.t
-}
-
-func (c *fakeClock) Advance(d time.Duration) {
-	c.t = c.t.Add(d)
-}
-
-// newFakeClock returns a clock started at a fixed instant.
-func newFakeClock() *fakeClock {
-	return &fakeClock{
-		t: time.Date(
-			2026, time.January, 2, 3, 4, 5, 0, time.UTC,
-		),
-	}
+	return m, sessManager
 }
 
 // --- Logging Middleware Tests ---
@@ -434,181 +387,6 @@ func TestRequireAuth_UnauthenticatedSession_RedirectsToLogin(
 	assert.Equal(t, "/pages/login", w.Header().Get("Location"))
 }
 
-// --- RequireAuth Session Expiry Tests ---
-
-// loginCookies authenticates a new session and returns the cookies
-// a browser would then send back.
-func loginCookies(
-	t *testing.T,
-	sessManager *session.Session,
-) []*http.Cookie {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	req := httptest.NewRequestWithContext(
-		context.Background(), http.MethodGet, "/login", nil)
-	w := httptest.NewRecorder()
-
-	sess, err := sessManager.Get(req)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	sessManager.SetUser(sess, "user-123", "testuser")
-	require.NoError(t, sessManager.Save(req, w, sess))
-
-	cookies := w.Result().Cookies()
-	require.NotEmpty(t, cookies, "session cookie should be set")
-
-	return cookies
-}
-
-// runAuthed sends a request carrying cookies through RequireAuth
-// and reports whether the protected handler ran, plus the response.
-func runAuthed(
-	t *testing.T,
-	m *middleware.Middleware,
-	cookies []*http.Cookie,
-) (bool, *httptest.ResponseRecorder) {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	var called bool
-
-	handler := m.RequireAuth()(http.HandlerFunc(
-		func(_ http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) {
-			called = true
-		},
-	))
-
-	req := httptest.NewRequestWithContext(
-		context.Background(),
-		http.MethodGet, "/dashboard", nil,
-	)
-
-	for _, c := range cookies {
-		req.AddCookie(c)
-	}
-
-	w := httptest.NewRecorder()
-	handler.ServeHTTP(w, req)
-
-	return called, w
-}
-
-// sessionCookies filters a response's cookies down to the session
-// cookie, so tests can tell whether the session was re-issued.
-func sessionCookies(
-	w *httptest.ResponseRecorder,
-) []*http.Cookie {
-	var out []*http.Cookie
-
-	for _, c := range w.Result().Cookies() {
-		if c.Name == session.SessionName {
-			out = append(out, c)
-		}
-	}
-
-	return out
-}
-
-func TestRequireAuth_IdleExpiredSession_RedirectsToLogin(
-	t *testing.T,
-) {
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	idle := time.Hour
-
-	m, sessManager, clock := testMiddlewareWithSessionClock(
-		t, config.EnvironmentDev, idle, newFakeClock(),
-	)
-
-	cookies := loginCookies(t, sessManager)
-
-	clock.Advance(idle)
-
-	called, w := runAuthed(t, m, cookies)
-
-	assert.False(
-		t, called,
-		"handler should not run for an idle-expired session",
-	)
-	assert.Equal(t, http.StatusSeeOther, w.Code)
-	assert.Equal(t, "/pages/login", w.Header().Get("Location"))
-	assert.Empty(
-		t, sessionCookies(w),
-		"an expired session must not be refreshed",
-	)
-}
-
-func TestRequireAuth_RefreshesIdleDeadlineOnActivity(
-	t *testing.T,
-) {
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	idle := time.Hour
-
-	m, sessManager, clock := testMiddlewareWithSessionClock(
-		t, config.EnvironmentDev, idle, newFakeClock(),
-	)
-
-	cookies := loginCookies(t, sessManager)
-
-	// Activity halfway through the idle window.
-	clock.Advance(idle / 2)
-
-	called, w := runAuthed(t, m, cookies)
-	require.True(t, called, "handler should run while valid")
-
-	refreshed := sessionCookies(w)
-	require.NotEmpty(
-		t, refreshed,
-		"activity should re-issue the session cookie",
-	)
-
-	// Past the original deadline. The refreshed cookie is still
-	// good; the original one is not.
-	clock.Advance(idle - time.Second)
-
-	calledRefreshed, _ := runAuthed(t, m, refreshed)
-	assert.True(
-		t, calledRefreshed,
-		"refreshed session should outlive the original deadline",
-	)
-
-	calledStale, staleW := runAuthed(t, m, cookies)
-	assert.False(
-		t, calledStale,
-		"the pre-refresh cookie carries the old idle deadline",
-	)
-	assert.Equal(t, http.StatusSeeOther, staleW.Code)
-}
-
-func TestRequireAuth_UnauthenticatedRequestDoesNotRefresh(
-	t *testing.T,
-) {
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	m, sessManager, _ := testMiddlewareWithSessionClock(
-		t, config.EnvironmentDev, time.Hour, newFakeClock(),
-	)
-
-	// A session cookie that exists but was never authenticated.
-	req := httptest.NewRequestWithContext(
-		context.Background(), http.MethodGet, "/setup", nil)
-	setupW := httptest.NewRecorder()
-
-	sess, err := sessManager.Get(req)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.NoError(t, sessManager.Save(req, setupW, sess))
-
-	cookies := setupW.Result().Cookies()
-	require.NotEmpty(t, cookies)
-
-	called, w := runAuthed(t, m, cookies)
-
-	assert.False(t, called)
-	assert.Empty(
-		t, sessionCookies(w),
-		"an unauthenticated request must not stamp the session",
-	)
-}
-
 // --- NoCache Middleware Tests ---
 
 func TestNoCache_SetsHeaders(t *testing.T) {
@@ -701,7 +479,7 @@ func metricsAuthMiddleware(
 	store := sessions.NewCookieStore(key)
 	store.Options = &sessions.Options{Path: "/", MaxAge: 86400}
 
-	sessManager := session.NewForTest(store, cfg, log, key, nil)
+	sessManager := session.NewForTest(store, cfg, log, key)
 
 	return middleware.NewForTest(log, cfg, sessManager)
 }

internal/session/session.go

@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ import (
 	"log/slog"
 	"maps"
 	"net/http"
-	"time"
 
 	"github.com/gorilla/sessions"
 	"go.uber.org/fx"
@@ -33,18 +32,6 @@ const (
 	// status.
 	AuthenticatedKey = "authenticated"
 
-	// CreatedAtKey is the session key holding the Unix timestamp at
-	// which the session was authenticated. It anchors the ABSOLUTE
-	// expiry clock and is written exactly once, by SetUser. Nothing
-	// refreshes it: an absolute deadline that moved with activity
-	// would not be a cap at all.
-	CreatedAtKey = "created_at"
-
-	// LastSeenKey is the session key holding the Unix timestamp of
-	// the most recent authenticated request. It anchors the IDLE
-	// expiry clock and is pushed forward by Touch.
-	LastSeenKey = "last_seen"
-
 	// sessionKeyLength is the required length in bytes for the
 	// session authentication key.
 	sessionKeyLength = 32
@@ -54,19 +41,6 @@ const (
 
 	// secondsPerDay is the number of seconds in a day.
 	secondsPerDay = 86400
-
-	// sessionAbsoluteMaxAge is the hard upper bound on how long a
-	// session may live, measured from CreatedAtKey. Activity never
-	// extends it, so even a continuously used session ends here and
-	// the user has to authenticate again.
-	sessionAbsoluteMaxAge = sessionMaxAgeDays * secondsPerDay * time.Second
-
-	// idleRefreshDivisor rate-limits idle-deadline refreshes. Touch
-	// only rewrites LastSeenKey once the stored value is older than
-	// idleTimeout/idleRefreshDivisor, so an active session is
-	// re-saved at most this many times per idle window instead of
-	// once per request. See Touch for the tradeoff this buys.
-	idleRefreshDivisor = 10
 )
 
 // ErrSessionKeyLength is returned when the decoded session key
@@ -88,16 +62,6 @@ type Session struct {
 	key    []byte // raw 32-byte auth key, also used for CSRF cookie signing
 	log    *slog.Logger
 	config *config.Config
-
-	// idleTimeout is the sliding inactivity window. A session that
-	// sees no authenticated request within this window expires,
-	// independently of the absolute cap. Non-positive disables idle
-	// expiry and leaves sessionAbsoluteMaxAge as the only bound.
-	idleTimeout time.Duration
-
-	// now reads the current time. Injected so expiry can be tested
-	// without sleeping.
-	now func() time.Time
 }
 
 // New creates a new session manager. The cookie store is
@@ -111,8 +75,6 @@ func New(
 	s := &Session{
 		log:    params.Logger.Get(),
 		config: params.Config,
-		idleTimeout: params.Config.SessionIdleTimeout,
-		now:         time.Now,
 	}
 
 	lc.Append(fx.Hook{
@@ -187,98 +149,29 @@ func (s *Session) Save(
 	return sess.Save(r, w)
 }
 
-// SetUser sets the user information in the session. It starts both
-// expiry clocks: CreatedAtKey (absolute, never refreshed again) and
-// LastSeenKey (idle, refreshed by Touch).
+// SetUser sets the user information in the session.
 func (s *Session) SetUser(
 	sess *sessions.Session,
 	userID, username string,
 ) {
-	now := s.now().Unix()
-
 	sess.Values[UserIDKey] = userID
 	sess.Values[UsernameKey] = username
 	sess.Values[AuthenticatedKey] = true
-	sess.Values[CreatedAtKey] = now
-	sess.Values[LastSeenKey] = now
 }
 
-// ClearUser removes user information from the session, including
-// both expiry timestamps.
+// ClearUser removes user information from the session.
 func (s *Session) ClearUser(sess *sessions.Session) {
 	delete(sess.Values, UserIDKey)
 	delete(sess.Values, UsernameKey)
 	delete(sess.Values, AuthenticatedKey)
-	delete(sess.Values, CreatedAtKey)
-	delete(sess.Values, LastSeenKey)
 }
 
-// sessionTime reads a Unix-second timestamp stored under key.
-func sessionTime(
-	sess *sessions.Session,
-	key string,
-) (time.Time, bool) {
-	secs, ok := sess.Values[key].(int64)
-	if !ok {
-		return time.Time{}, false
-	}
-
-	return time.Unix(secs, 0), true
-}
-
-// IsAuthenticated checks if the session has an authenticated user
-// whose session has not passed either expiry deadline. Every
-// authentication decision goes through here, so neither clock can
-// be bypassed by a caller that forgets to check it.
+// IsAuthenticated checks if the session has an authenticated
+// user.
 func (s *Session) IsAuthenticated(sess *sessions.Session) bool {
 	auth, ok := sess.Values[AuthenticatedKey].(bool)
-	if !ok || !auth {
-		return false
-	}
 
-	return !s.expired(sess)
-}
-
-// Touch records authenticated activity by pushing the IDLE deadline
-// forward. It writes LastSeenKey only; CreatedAtKey is left alone so
-// the absolute cap keeps counting down even for a user who never
-// stops clicking.
-//
-// Callers must only invoke Touch for a request that authenticated
-// with this session. Refreshing on an unauthenticated request would
-// let anyone holding a stolen or abandoned cookie keep the session
-// alive by polling a public endpoint. Touch enforces that itself by
-// returning false for any session that is not currently
-// authenticated and unexpired.
-//
-// To avoid re-encrypting and re-emitting the session cookie on every
-// single request, the timestamp is advanced only once it is older
-// than idleTimeout/idleRefreshDivisor. The tradeoff is that
-// LastSeenKey lags real activity by up to that much, so a session
-// can expire slightly early relative to the user's true last
-// request -- never late.
-//
-// Touch reports whether it changed the session; only then does the
-// caller need to save it.
-func (s *Session) Touch(sess *sessions.Session) bool {
-	if s.idleTimeout <= 0 {
-		return false
-	}
-
-	if !s.IsAuthenticated(sess) {
-		return false
-	}
-
-	now := s.now()
-
-	lastSeen, ok := sessionTime(sess, LastSeenKey)
-	if ok && now.Sub(lastSeen) < s.idleTimeout/idleRefreshDivisor {
-		return false
-	}
-
-	sess.Values[LastSeenKey] = now.Unix()
-
-	return true
+	return ok && auth
 }
 
 // GetUserID retrieves the user ID from the session.
@@ -360,41 +253,3 @@ func (s *Session) Regenerate(
 
 	return newSess, nil
 }
-
-// expired reports whether the session has passed either of its two
-// independent deadlines. They are deliberately kept apart:
-//
-//   - the ABSOLUTE deadline is CreatedAtKey + sessionAbsoluteMaxAge.
-//     It is fixed at login and no amount of activity moves it.
-//   - the IDLE deadline is LastSeenKey + idleTimeout. Activity moves
-//     it forward via Touch.
-//
-// Whichever comes first ends the session.
-//
-// A session that claims to be authenticated but carries no
-// timestamps predates this check; it is treated as expired so the
-// user re-authenticates rather than being granted an unbounded
-// session.
-func (s *Session) expired(sess *sessions.Session) bool {
-	now := s.now()
-
-	createdAt, ok := sessionTime(sess, CreatedAtKey)
-	if !ok {
-		return true
-	}
-
-	if !now.Before(createdAt.Add(sessionAbsoluteMaxAge)) {
-		return true
-	}
-
-	if s.idleTimeout <= 0 {
-		return false
-	}
-
-	lastSeen, ok := sessionTime(sess, LastSeenKey)
-	if !ok {
-		return true
-	}
-
-	return !now.Before(lastSeen.Add(s.idleTimeout))
-}

internal/session/session_test.go

@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import (
 	"net/http/httptest"
 	"os"
 	"testing"
-	"time"
 
 	"github.com/gorilla/sessions"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
@@ -18,47 +17,11 @@ import (
 
 const testKeySize = 32
 
-// testIdleTimeout is the idle window used by the expiry tests.
-const testIdleTimeout = time.Hour
-
-// testAbsoluteMaxAge restates the documented absolute session cap
-// independently of the implementation constant.
-const testAbsoluteMaxAge = 7 * 24 * time.Hour
-
-// fakeClock is a manually advanced clock, so expiry can be tested
-// without sleeping.
-type fakeClock struct {
-	t time.Time
-}
-
-func (c *fakeClock) Now() time.Time {
-	return c.t
-}
-
-func (c *fakeClock) Advance(d time.Duration) {
-	c.t = c.t.Add(d)
-}
-
-// testSession creates a Session with a real cookie store and the
-// real clock.
+// testSession creates a Session with a real cookie store for
+// testing.
 func testSession(t *testing.T) *session.Session {
 	t.Helper()
 
-	s, _ := testSessionWithClock(t, testIdleTimeout, nil)
-
-	return s
-}
-
-// testSessionWithClock creates a Session with a real cookie store,
-// the given idle timeout, and a manually advanced clock. Passing a
-// nil clock uses the real one.
-func testSessionWithClock(
-	t *testing.T,
-	idleTimeout time.Duration,
-	clock *fakeClock,
-) (*session.Session, *fakeClock) {
-	t.Helper()
-
 	key := make([]byte, testKeySize)
 
 	for i := range key {
@@ -76,7 +39,6 @@ func testSessionWithClock(
 
 	cfg := &config.Config{
 		Environment: config.EnvironmentDev,
-		SessionIdleTimeout: idleTimeout,
 	}
 
 	log := slog.New(slog.NewTextHandler(
@@ -84,46 +46,7 @@ func testSessionWithClock(
 		&slog.HandlerOptions{Level: slog.LevelDebug},
 	))
 
-	var now func() time.Time
-
-	if clock != nil {
-		now = clock.Now
-	}
-
-	return session.NewForTest(store, cfg, log, key, now), clock
-}
-
-// newFakeClock returns a clock started at a fixed instant.
-func newFakeClock() *fakeClock {
-	return &fakeClock{
-		t: time.Date(
-			2026, time.January, 2, 3, 4, 5, 0, time.UTC,
-		),
-	}
-}
-
-// authenticatedSession returns a fresh session that has just been
-// logged in, along with its manager and clock.
-func authenticatedSession(
-	t *testing.T,
-	idleTimeout time.Duration,
-) (*session.Session, *sessions.Session, *fakeClock) {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	s, clock := testSessionWithClock(
-		t, idleTimeout, newFakeClock(),
-	)
-
-	req := httptest.NewRequestWithContext(
-		context.Background(), http.MethodGet, "/", nil)
-
-	sess, err := s.Get(req)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	s.SetUser(sess, "user-123", "alice")
-	require.True(t, s.IsAuthenticated(sess))
-
-	return s, sess, clock
+	return session.NewForTest(store, cfg, log, key)
 }
 
 // --- Get and Save Tests ---
@@ -507,263 +430,6 @@ func TestSessionConstants(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, "user_id", session.UserIDKey)
 	assert.Equal(t, "username", session.UsernameKey)
 	assert.Equal(t, "authenticated", session.AuthenticatedKey)
-	assert.Equal(t, "created_at", session.CreatedAtKey)
-	assert.Equal(t, "last_seen", session.LastSeenKey)
-}
-
-// --- Expiry Tests ---
-
-func TestSetUser_StartsBothClocks(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	_, sess, clock := authenticatedSession(t, testIdleTimeout)
-
-	assert.Equal(
-		t, clock.Now().Unix(), sess.Values[session.CreatedAtKey],
-		"SetUser should anchor the absolute clock",
-	)
-	assert.Equal(
-		t, clock.Now().Unix(), sess.Values[session.LastSeenKey],
-		"SetUser should anchor the idle clock",
-	)
-}
-
-func TestIsAuthenticated_WithinIdleWindow(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	s, sess, clock := authenticatedSession(t, testIdleTimeout)
-
-	clock.Advance(testIdleTimeout - time.Second)
-
-	assert.True(
-		t, s.IsAuthenticated(sess),
-		"session should still be valid just inside the idle window",
-	)
-}
-
-func TestIsAuthenticated_IdleExpired(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	s, sess, clock := authenticatedSession(t, testIdleTimeout)
-
-	clock.Advance(testIdleTimeout)
-
-	assert.False(
-		t, s.IsAuthenticated(sess),
-		"session should expire once the idle window lapses",
-	)
-}
-
-// TestTouch_DoesNotExtendAbsoluteCap is the regression test for the
-// refresh-the-wrong-clock bug: a session that is used continuously
-// must survive well past the idle window and still die at the
-// absolute cap.
-func TestTouch_DoesNotExtendAbsoluteCap(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	s, sess, clock := authenticatedSession(t, testIdleTimeout)
-
-	createdAt := sess.Values[session.CreatedAtKey]
-
-	// Stay active: a request every half idle window, right up to
-	// the absolute cap.
-	step := testIdleTimeout / 2
-	steps := int(testAbsoluteMaxAge/step) - 1
-
-	for i := range steps {
-		clock.Advance(step)
-		s.Touch(sess)
-
-		require.True(
-			t, s.IsAuthenticated(sess),
-			"active session should survive the idle window "+
-				"(step %d of %d)", i+1, steps,
-		)
-	}
-
-	// One more step of activity takes the session to exactly the
-	// absolute cap, measured from login. Nothing that happened in
-	// the loop may have moved that deadline.
-	clock.Advance(step)
-	s.Touch(sess)
-
-	assert.False(
-		t, s.IsAuthenticated(sess),
-		"activity must not extend the absolute cap",
-	)
-	assert.Equal(
-		t, createdAt, sess.Values[session.CreatedAtKey],
-		"Touch must never rewrite the absolute-clock anchor",
-	)
-}
-
-func TestTouch_RefreshesIdleDeadline(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	s, sess, clock := authenticatedSession(t, testIdleTimeout)
-
-	// Halfway through the window, activity happens.
-	clock.Advance(testIdleTimeout / 2)
-	assert.True(
-		t, s.Touch(sess),
-		"Touch should refresh once past the lazy-refresh threshold",
-	)
-
-	// Past the original deadline, but inside the refreshed one.
-	clock.Advance(testIdleTimeout - time.Second)
-	assert.True(
-		t, s.IsAuthenticated(sess),
-		"refreshed session should outlive the original deadline",
-	)
-
-	// And it still expires an idle window after that activity.
-	clock.Advance(time.Second)
-	assert.False(
-		t, s.IsAuthenticated(sess),
-		"refreshed session should expire one window after activity",
-	)
-}
-
-func TestTouch_LazyBelowRefreshThreshold(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	s, sess, clock := authenticatedSession(t, testIdleTimeout)
-
-	before := sess.Values[session.LastSeenKey]
-
-	// A request arriving almost immediately is not worth a cookie
-	// rewrite.
-	clock.Advance(time.Second)
-
-	assert.False(
-		t, s.Touch(sess),
-		"Touch should not rewrite the session below the threshold",
-	)
-	assert.Equal(
-		t, before, sess.Values[session.LastSeenKey],
-		"last-seen should be unchanged below the threshold",
-	)
-}
-
-func TestTouch_UnauthenticatedSessionIsNotRefreshed(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	s, clock := testSessionWithClock(
-		t, testIdleTimeout, newFakeClock(),
-	)
-
-	req := httptest.NewRequestWithContext(
-		context.Background(), http.MethodGet, "/", nil)
-
-	sess, err := s.Get(req)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	clock.Advance(testIdleTimeout / 2)
-
-	assert.False(
-		t, s.Touch(sess),
-		"an unauthenticated session must not be refreshed",
-	)
-
-	_, hasLastSeen := sess.Values[session.LastSeenKey]
-	assert.False(
-		t, hasLastSeen,
-		"Touch must not stamp an unauthenticated session",
-	)
-}
-
-func TestTouch_IdleExpiredSessionIsNotRevived(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	s, sess, clock := authenticatedSession(t, testIdleTimeout)
-
-	clock.Advance(testIdleTimeout)
-	require.False(t, s.IsAuthenticated(sess))
-
-	assert.False(
-		t, s.Touch(sess),
-		"an already expired session must not be refreshed",
-	)
-	assert.False(
-		t, s.IsAuthenticated(sess),
-		"Touch must not revive an expired session",
-	)
-}
-
-func TestIsAuthenticated_MissingTimestamps(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	s, _ := testSessionWithClock(
-		t, testIdleTimeout, newFakeClock(),
-	)
-
-	req := httptest.NewRequestWithContext(
-		context.Background(), http.MethodGet, "/", nil)
-
-	sess, err := s.Get(req)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	// A session from before idle expiry existed: authenticated,
-	// but with no timestamps. Fail closed.
-	sess.Values[session.AuthenticatedKey] = true
-
-	assert.False(
-		t, s.IsAuthenticated(sess),
-		"a session with no timestamps should be rejected",
-	)
-}
-
-func TestIsAuthenticated_MissingLastSeen(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	s, sess, _ := authenticatedSession(t, testIdleTimeout)
-
-	delete(sess.Values, session.LastSeenKey)
-
-	assert.False(
-		t, s.IsAuthenticated(sess),
-		"a session with no idle anchor should be rejected",
-	)
-}
-
-func TestIdleTimeoutDisabled_AbsoluteCapStillApplies(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	s, sess, clock := authenticatedSession(t, 0)
-
-	// Idle expiry is off, so an untouched session survives an
-	// arbitrary idle stretch.
-	clock.Advance(testAbsoluteMaxAge - time.Second)
-	assert.True(
-		t, s.IsAuthenticated(sess),
-		"idle expiry should be disabled by a non-positive timeout",
-	)
-
-	assert.False(
-		t, s.Touch(sess),
-		"Touch should be a no-op when idle expiry is disabled",
-	)
-
-	// The absolute cap still ends it.
-	clock.Advance(time.Second)
-	assert.False(
-		t, s.IsAuthenticated(sess),
-		"the absolute cap must still apply with idle expiry off",
-	)
-}
-
-func TestClearUser_RemovesTimestamps(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	s, sess, _ := authenticatedSession(t, testIdleTimeout)
-
-	s.ClearUser(sess)
-
-	_, hasCreatedAt := sess.Values[session.CreatedAtKey]
-	assert.False(t, hasCreatedAt, "CreatedAtKey should be removed")
-
-	_, hasLastSeen := sess.Values[session.LastSeenKey]
-	assert.False(t, hasLastSeen, "LastSeenKey should be removed")
 }
 
 // --- Edge Cases ---

internal/session/testing.go

@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package session
 
 import (
 	"log/slog"
-	"time"
 
 	"github.com/gorilla/sessions"
 	"sneak.berlin/go/webhooker/internal/config"
@@ -13,28 +12,16 @@ import (
 // middleware and handler tests to use real session functionality. The key
 // parameter is the raw 32-byte authentication key used for session encryption
 // and CSRF cookie signing.
-//
-// The idle timeout is taken from cfg.SessionIdleTimeout, exactly as in
-// production. The now parameter supplies the clock used for expiry
-// checks so tests can advance time without sleeping; pass nil for the
-// real clock.
 func NewForTest(
 	store *sessions.CookieStore,
 	cfg *config.Config,
 	log *slog.Logger,
 	key []byte,
-	now func() time.Time,
 ) *Session {
-	if now == nil {
-		now = time.Now
-	}
-
 	return &Session{
 		store:  store,
 		key:    key,
 		config: cfg,
 		log:    log,
-		idleTimeout: cfg.SessionIdleTimeout,
-		now:         now,
 	}
 }