---
title: Fix authentication timeout bug
description: Resolve intermittent timeout errors in JWT validation middleware
intent:
  type: bugfix
  scope: [components/auth/src, components/middleware/src]
constraints:
  - maintain-backward-compatibility
  - add-regression-test
  - follow-security-best-practices
tags: [bugfix, authentication, security]
---

## Additional Context

The authentication middleware is experiencing intermittent timeout errors when
validating JWT tokens under high load. This appears to be related to connection
pool exhaustion in the token validation service.

## Observed Behavior

- Timeouts occur after ~100 concurrent requests
- Connection pool shows max connections reached
- No proper connection cleanup in error paths

## Expected Fix

1. Review connection pool configuration
2. Ensure proper connection cleanup in all code paths (including errors)
3. Add circuit breaker pattern if appropriate
4. Include load test to verify fix under stress

## References

- Issue #234: JWT validation timeouts
- N3 Security Requirements §2.3: "Authentication MUST handle load gracefully"
