README.md

@@ -92,6 +92,27 @@ 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

TODO.md

@@ -28,6 +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)
 - 2026-08-07 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
@@ -71,7 +75,7 @@ databases currently grow without bound.
     - event redelivery endpoint
     - OpenAPI specification
 - Analytics dashboard: success rates, response times, volume
-- Session expiration tuning and a remember-me option
+- A remember-me option at login
 - Password change and reset flow
 - Later, nice to have
     - email delivery target type

internal/config/config.go

@@ -31,6 +31,10 @@ 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
@@ -60,6 +64,10 @@ 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
 }
@@ -162,6 +170,15 @@ 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"),
@@ -173,6 +190,7 @@ 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 {
-				testRetentionSweepIntervalError(t)
+				expectStartupError(t)
 			} else {
 				testRetentionSweepIntervalSuccess(t, tt.expected)
 			}
@@ -171,7 +171,9 @@ func TestRetentionSweepInterval(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func testRetentionSweepIntervalError(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) {
 	t.Helper()
 
 	var cfg *config.Config
@@ -215,6 +217,82 @@ 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/middleware/middleware.go

@@ -186,6 +186,10 @@ 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",
@@ -199,6 +203,26 @@ 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

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"net/http/httptest"
 	"os"
 	"testing"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/gorilla/sessions"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
@@ -28,13 +29,30 @@ 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},
 	))
 
 	cfg := &config.Config{
-		Environment: env,
+		Environment:        env,
+		SessionIdleTimeout: idleTimeout,
 	}
 
 	// Create a real session manager with a known key
@@ -53,11 +71,40 @@ func testMiddleware(
 		SameSite: http.SameSiteLaxMode,
 	}
 
-	sessManager := session.NewForTest(store, cfg, log, key)
+	var now func() time.Time
+
+	if clock != nil {
+		now = clock.Now
+	}
+
+	sessManager := session.NewForTest(store, cfg, log, key, now)
 
 	m := middleware.NewForTest(log, cfg, sessManager)
 
-	return m, 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,
+		),
+	}
 }
 
 // --- Logging Middleware Tests ---
@@ -387,6 +434,181 @@ 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) {
@@ -479,7 +701,7 @@ func metricsAuthMiddleware(
 	store := sessions.NewCookieStore(key)
 	store.Options = &sessions.Options{Path: "/", MaxAge: 86400}
 
-	sessManager := session.NewForTest(store, cfg, log, key)
+	sessManager := session.NewForTest(store, cfg, log, key, nil)
 
 	return middleware.NewForTest(log, cfg, sessManager)
 }

internal/session/session.go

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"log/slog"
 	"maps"
 	"net/http"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/gorilla/sessions"
 	"go.uber.org/fx"
@@ -32,6 +33,18 @@ 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
@@ -41,6 +54,19 @@ 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
@@ -62,6 +88,16 @@ 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
@@ -73,8 +109,10 @@ func New(
 	params Params,
 ) (*Session, error) {
 	s := &Session{
-		log:    params.Logger.Get(),
+		log:         params.Logger.Get(),
-		config: params.Config,
+		config:      params.Config,
+		idleTimeout: params.Config.SessionIdleTimeout,
+		now:         time.Now,
 	}
 
 	lc.Append(fx.Hook{
@@ -149,29 +187,98 @@ func (s *Session) Save(
 	return sess.Save(r, w)
 }
 
-// SetUser sets the user information in the session.
+// SetUser sets the user information in the session. It starts both
+// expiry clocks: CreatedAtKey (absolute, never refreshed again) and
+// LastSeenKey (idle, refreshed by Touch).
 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.
+// ClearUser removes user information from the session, including
+// both expiry timestamps.
 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)
 }
 
-// IsAuthenticated checks if the session has an authenticated
+// sessionTime reads a Unix-second timestamp stored under key.
-// user.
+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.
 func (s *Session) IsAuthenticated(sess *sessions.Session) bool {
 	auth, ok := sess.Values[AuthenticatedKey].(bool)
+	if !ok || !auth {
+		return false
+	}
 
-	return ok && auth
+	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
 }
 
 // GetUserID retrieves the user ID from the session.
@@ -253,3 +360,41 @@ 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

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"net/http/httptest"
 	"os"
 	"testing"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/gorilla/sessions"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
@@ -17,11 +18,47 @@ import (
 
 const testKeySize = 32
 
-// testSession creates a Session with a real cookie store for
+// testIdleTimeout is the idle window used by the expiry tests.
-// testing.
+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.
 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 {
@@ -38,7 +75,8 @@ func testSession(t *testing.T) *session.Session {
 	}
 
 	cfg := &config.Config{
-		Environment: config.EnvironmentDev,
+		Environment:        config.EnvironmentDev,
+		SessionIdleTimeout: idleTimeout,
 	}
 
 	log := slog.New(slog.NewTextHandler(
@@ -46,7 +84,46 @@ func testSession(t *testing.T) *session.Session {
 		&slog.HandlerOptions{Level: slog.LevelDebug},
 	))
 
-	return session.NewForTest(store, cfg, log, key)
+	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
 }
 
 // --- Get and Save Tests ---
@@ -430,6 +507,263 @@ 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

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package session
 
 import (
 	"log/slog"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/gorilla/sessions"
 	"sneak.berlin/go/webhooker/internal/config"
@@ -12,16 +13,28 @@ 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,
+		store:       store,
-		key:    key,
+		key:         key,
-		config: cfg,
+		config:      cfg,
-		log:    log,
+		log:         log,
+		idleTimeout: cfg.SessionIdleTimeout,
+		now:         now,
 	}
 }