Ensure SQL Session Idle Timeouts Are Configured for SQL Roles

MediumLevel 1Manual reviewcockroachdb

Description

CockroachDB allows administrators to define role-level SQL session idle timeouts using the idle_in_session_timeout session variable. This setting ensures that any session authenticated under a given SQL role is automatically terminated after a defined period of inactivity. Configuring idle session timeouts for SQL roles provides a more granular control model than cluster-wide settings.

How it is checked

Audit method: Manual review

This recommendation cannot be checked automatically. A scan lists it with these instructions when you pass --include-manual.

For every SQL role run SHOW DEFAULT SESSION VARIABLES FOR ROLE <role_name>; idle_in_session_timeout must appear with a non-zero value aligned with policy (e.g. 10m-30m for administrative roles, up to 1h for application roles with documented justification). Roles without it are a finding.

How it is fixed

Fix method: Guidance or infrastructure patch

1. Set idle timeout for a SQL role: Set a reasonable timeout for idle connections: ALTER ROLE <role_name> SET idle_in_session_timeout = '<duration>'; -- Example - set 30-minute idle timeout for a read-only role: ALTER ROLE table_reader SET idle_in_session_timeout = '30m';

Properties

Operating systems: Any
Tags: cockroachdbsession
Reference: CIS CockroachDB v25.x Benchmark v1.0.0 - 6.6 Ensure SQL Session Idle Timeouts Are Configured for SQL Roles