fix(cache/redis): honor enableTLS for Redis backend (#133 )

The redis.enableTLS / redis.tlsSkipVerify settings were accepted by the config layer but silently dropped before reaching the connection pool, so the plugin always dialed Redis in plaintext. This blocked TLS-only Redis deployments such as AWS ElastiCache with in-transit encryption. - Add EnableTLS, TLSSkipVerify, TLSServerName to backends.Config and PoolConfig and forward them through universal_cache_singleton -> backends.Config -> PoolConfig. - In the connection pool, dial via tls.Dialer.DialContext (TLS 1.2 minimum) with SNI defaulting to the host part of the configured Address when TLSServerName is empty, so ElastiCache cluster endpoints validate out of the box. Plain dial path now also propagates ctx. - Add regression tests covering successful TLS negotiation with skip- verify, rejection of self-signed certs without skip-verify, rejection of plain TCP servers when EnableTLS=true, and unaffected plaintext behavior. - Document maxRefreshTokenAgeSeconds (added in 1b6c861) and the implicit SSE / WebSocket auth bypass (added in 684a990) in README.md, docs/CONFIGURATION.md and docs/index.html. - Add the missing redis.tlsSkipVerify row to docs/index.html and clarify the redis.enableTLS description. patch-release
fix(refresh): honor userIdentifierClaim in token refresh path (#132 )
2026-06-07 22:53:58 +00:00 · 2026-05-07 12:24:13 +01:00 · 2026-05-07 09:21:41 +01:00 · 2026-05-02 03:12:20 +01:00
24 changed files with 912 additions and 226 deletions
@@ -121,6 +121,7 @@ Full reference in [docs/CONFIGURATION.md](docs/CONFIGURATION.md).
 | `cookiePrefix` | `_oidc_raczylo_` | Unique prefix per middleware instance to isolate sessions. |
 | `sessionMaxAge` | `86400` | Session lifetime in seconds. |
 | `refreshGracePeriodSeconds` | `60` | Proactively refresh tokens this many seconds before expiry. |
+| `maxRefreshTokenAgeSeconds` | `21600` | Heuristic max stored refresh-token lifetime (6h). Past this, the plugin treats the RT as expired without contacting the IdP — returns 401 to AJAX, full re-auth on navigations. Set `0` to disable. Tune to match your IdP's RT TTL. |
 | `rateLimit` | `100` | Requests/sec. Min `10`. |
 | `logLevel` | `info` | `debug`, `info`, `error`. |
 | `audience` | `clientID` | Custom access-token audience (Auth0 custom APIs). |
@@ -165,6 +166,22 @@ Each instance must use a unique `cookiePrefix` **and** `sessionEncryptionKey`,
 otherwise a session minted by one instance can grant access through another.
 See [issue #87](https://github.com/lukaszraczylo/traefikoidc/issues/87).

+### SSE and WebSocket endpoints
+
+Browser clients cannot follow an OIDC `302` redirect on an SSE stream or a
+WebSocket upgrade. The middleware handles this automatically:
+
+- **SSE** (`Accept: text/event-stream`) and **WebSocket** (`Upgrade: websocket`)
+  requests skip the OIDC redirect.
+- They are **not** unauthenticated — a valid encrypted session cookie is
+  required, otherwise the request is rejected. The session must already exist
+  (i.e. the user logged in via a normal HTTP page first).
+- `X-Forwarded-User` is forwarded from the session.
+- Validation is cookie-only (no JWK fetch), so streaming keeps working during
+  brief IdP outages.
+
+No configuration needed — this is implicit behavior.
+
 ### HTTP 431 from backends

 Either the ID token or the chunked OIDC cookies overflow your backend's header
@@ -1491,7 +1491,7 @@ func TestAudienceEndToEndScenario(t *testing.T) {
 		if err := session.SetAuthenticated(true); err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("Failed to set authenticated: %v", err)
 		}
-		session.SetEmail("user@company.com")
+		session.SetUserIdentifier("user@company.com")
 		session.SetIDToken(validJWT)
 		session.SetAccessToken(validJWT)

@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ func (t *TraefikOidc) generatePKCEParameters() (string, string, error) {
 func (t *TraefikOidc) prepareSessionForAuthentication(session *SessionData, csrfToken, nonce, codeVerifier, incomingPath string) {
 	// Clear all existing session data
 	_ = session.SetAuthenticated(false) // Safe to ignore: clearing authentication state on new flow
-	session.SetEmail("")
+	session.SetUserIdentifier("")
 	session.SetAccessToken("")
 	session.SetRefreshToken("")
 	session.SetIDToken("")
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ func (t *TraefikOidc) handleCallback(rw http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request,
 		t.sendErrorResponse(rw, req, "Failed to update session", http.StatusInternalServerError)
 		return
 	}
-	session.SetEmail(userIdentifier) // SetEmail stores the user identifier (email or other claim)
+	session.SetUserIdentifier(userIdentifier)
 	session.SetIDToken(tokenResponse.IDToken)
 	session.SetAccessToken(tokenResponse.AccessToken)
 	session.SetRefreshToken(tokenResponse.RefreshToken)
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ func (t *TraefikOidc) handleExpiredToken(rw http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Reque
 	session.SetIDToken("")
 	session.SetAccessToken("")
 	session.SetRefreshToken("")
-	session.SetEmail("")
+	session.SetUserIdentifier("")
 	// Clear CSRF tokens to prevent replay attacks
 	session.SetCSRF("")
 	session.SetNonce("")
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ func (s *AuthFlowBehaviourSuite) TestPrepareSessionForAuthentication() {

 	// Pre-populate session with old data
 	_ = session.SetAuthenticated(true)
-	session.SetEmail("old@example.com")
+	session.SetUserIdentifier("old@example.com")
 	session.SetAccessToken("old-access-token-with-many-characters")
 	session.SetRefreshToken("old-refresh-token-with-many-characters")
 	session.SetIDToken("eyJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzdWIiOiIxMjM0NTY3ODkwIiwibmFtZSI6IkpvaG4gRG9lIiwiYWRtaW4iOnRydWUsImlhdCI6MTUxNjIzOTAyMn0.signature")
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ func (s *AuthFlowBehaviourSuite) TestPrepareSessionForAuthentication() {

 	// Verify old data is cleared
 	s.False(session.GetAuthenticated())
-	s.Empty(session.GetEmail())
+	s.Empty(session.GetUserIdentifier())

 	// Verify new data is set
 	s.Equal(csrfToken, session.GetCSRF())
@@ -711,7 +711,7 @@ func (s *AuthFlowBehaviourSuite) TestHandleExpiredToken() {
 	session, err := sessionManager.GetSession(req)
 	s.Require().NoError(err)
 	_ = session.SetAuthenticated(true)
-	session.SetEmail("test@example.com")
+	session.SetUserIdentifier("test@example.com")
 	session.SetIDToken("eyJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzdWIiOiIxMjM0NTY3ODkwIiwibmFtZSI6IkpvaG4gRG9lIiwiYWRtaW4iOnRydWUsImlhdCI6MTUxNjIzOTAyMn0.signature")
 	session.mainSession.Values["redirect_count"] = 3

@@ -720,7 +720,7 @@ func (s *AuthFlowBehaviourSuite) TestHandleExpiredToken() {

 	// Session should be cleared
 	s.False(session.GetAuthenticated())
-	s.Empty(session.GetEmail())
+	s.Empty(session.GetUserIdentifier())
 	s.Empty(session.GetIDToken())

 	// Redirect count should be reset to 0 and then incremented by defaultInitiateAuthentication
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ func TestCSRFTokenSessionManagement(t *testing.T) {
 		session.SetCSRF(csrfToken)
 		session.SetNonce("test-nonce")
 		session.SetAuthenticated(true)
-		session.SetEmail("user@example.com")
+		session.SetUserIdentifier("user@example.com")
 		session.SetAccessToken("old-access-token")
 		session.SetRefreshToken("old-refresh-token")
 		session.SetIDToken("old-id-token")
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ func TestCSRFTokenSessionManagement(t *testing.T) {

 		// Now perform selective clearing (as done in the fix)
 		session2.SetAuthenticated(false)
-		session2.SetEmail("")
+		session2.SetUserIdentifier("")
 		session2.SetAccessToken("")
 		session2.SetRefreshToken("")
 		session2.SetIDToken("")
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ func TestRegressionLoginLoop(t *testing.T) {

 		// Set initial session data
 		session.SetAuthenticated(true)
-		session.SetEmail("old@example.com")
+		session.SetUserIdentifier("old@example.com")
 		session.SetAccessToken("old-token")
 		session.SetCSRF("existing-csrf")

@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ func TestRegressionLoginLoop(t *testing.T) {
 		// OLD BEHAVIOR: session.Clear() would have been called here, losing CSRF
 		// NEW BEHAVIOR: Selective clearing
 		session2.SetAuthenticated(false)
-		session2.SetEmail("")
+		session2.SetUserIdentifier("")
 		session2.SetAccessToken("")
 		session2.SetRefreshToken("")
 		session2.SetIDToken("")
@@ -70,6 +70,33 @@ overwrite it).
 Set `forceHTTPS: false` only when you serve OIDC over plaintext HTTP (local
 dev). Otherwise leave it at default.

+### Streaming Endpoints (SSE and WebSocket)
+
+The middleware automatically bypasses the OIDC redirect for two request kinds
+that browsers cannot follow a 302 on:
+
+| Bypass | Triggered by |
+|--------|--------------|
+| Server-Sent Events (SSE) | `Accept: text/event-stream` |
+| WebSocket upgrade | `Upgrade: websocket` + `Connection: upgrade` (RFC 6455) |
+
+These requests do **not** require any explicit configuration — they are
+handled implicitly. However, the bypass is **not** unauthenticated:
+
+- A valid, encrypted session cookie is required. Requests without one are
+  rejected (the connection cannot proceed to the backend).
+- The session cookie is sealed with `sessionEncryptionKey`, so the
+  `authenticated` flag cannot be forged.
+- Validation is cookie-only — no JWK fetch / signature verification — so
+  streaming endpoints keep working when the OIDC provider is briefly
+  unavailable.
+- The user identifier from the session is forwarded as `X-Forwarded-User`
+  (and `X-Auth-Request-User` unless `minimalHeaders: true`).
+
+For browser clients, the user must complete the normal OIDC flow on a
+regular HTTP page first; the resulting session cookie is then reused on the
+SSE / WebSocket connection.
+
 ---

 ## Security Options
@@ -113,6 +140,7 @@ strictAudienceValidation: true
 |-----------|------|---------|-------------|
 | `sessionMaxAge` | int | `86400` (24h) | Maximum session age in seconds |
 | `refreshGracePeriodSeconds` | int | `60` | Seconds before expiry to attempt refresh |
+| `maxRefreshTokenAgeSeconds` | int | `21600` | Heuristic max age (in seconds) of a stored refresh token. Once exceeded, requests treat the RT as expired up front (returns 401 to AJAX, triggers full re-auth on navigations) instead of grant-spamming the IdP with `invalid_grant` retries. IdPs do not advertise RT TTL on the wire, so this is intentionally a conservative heuristic — tune to match your provider. Set `0` to disable. Default `21600` (6h). |
 | `cookieDomain` | string | auto-detected | Domain for session cookies |
 | `cookiePrefix` | string | `_oidc_raczylo_` | Prefix for cookie names |

@@ -718,6 +718,11 @@ spec:
                                        <td class="py-2 px-3">86400</td>
                                        <td class="py-2 px-3">Maximum session age in seconds (24 hours default)</td>
                                    </tr>
+                                    <tr class="border-b border-gray-100 dark:border-gray-800">
+                                        <td class="py-2 px-3"><code class="bg-gray-200 dark:bg-gray-700 px-1 rounded">maxRefreshTokenAgeSeconds</code></td>
+                                        <td class="py-2 px-3">21600</td>
+                                        <td class="py-2 px-3">Heuristic upper bound on stored refresh-token lifetime (6 hours default). Past this, the plugin treats the RT as expired without contacting the IdP. Set <code>0</code> to disable.</td>
+                                    </tr>
                                    <tr class="border-b border-gray-100 dark:border-gray-800">
                                        <td class="py-2 px-3"><code class="bg-gray-200 dark:bg-gray-700 px-1 rounded">cookiePrefix</code></td>
                                        <td class="py-2 px-3">_oidc_raczylo_</td>
@@ -858,7 +863,12 @@ spec:
                                    <tr>
                                        <td class="py-2 px-3"><code class="bg-gray-200 dark:bg-gray-700 px-1 rounded">redis.enableTLS</code></td>
                                        <td class="py-2 px-3">false</td>
-                                        <td class="py-2 px-3">Enable TLS for Redis connections</td>
+                                        <td class="py-2 px-3">Enable TLS for Redis connections (e.g. AWS ElastiCache in-transit encryption)</td>
+                                    </tr>
+                                    <tr>
+                                        <td class="py-2 px-3"><code class="bg-gray-200 dark:bg-gray-700 px-1 rounded">redis.tlsSkipVerify</code></td>
+                                        <td class="py-2 px-3">false</td>
+                                        <td class="py-2 px-3">Skip TLS server certificate verification (testing only; not recommended in production)</td>
                                    </tr>
                                </tbody>
                            </table>
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ type Config struct {
 	Type                 BackendType
 	RedisAddr            string
 	RedisPassword        string
+	TLSServerName        string
 	PoolSize             int
 	RedisDB              int
 	CleanupInterval      time.Duration
@@ -34,6 +35,8 @@ type Config struct {
 	EnableCircuitBreaker bool
 	EnableHealthCheck    bool
 	EnableMetrics        bool
+	EnableTLS            bool
+	TLSSkipVerify        bool
 }

 // DefaultConfig returns a default configuration for in-memory caching
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ func NewRedisBackend(config *Config) (*RedisBackend, error) {
 	poolConfig := &PoolConfig{
 		Address:           config.RedisAddr,
 		Password:          config.RedisPassword,
+		TLSServerName:     config.TLSServerName,
 		DB:                config.RedisDB,
 		MaxConnections:    config.PoolSize,
 		ConnectTimeout:    2 * time.Second,
@@ -57,6 +58,8 @@ func NewRedisBackend(config *Config) (*RedisBackend, error) {
 		EnableHealthCheck: true,
 		MaxRetries:        3,
 		RetryDelay:        100 * time.Millisecond,
+		EnableTLS:         config.EnableTLS,
+		TLSSkipVerify:     config.TLSSkipVerify,
 	}

 	pool, err := NewConnectionPool(poolConfig)
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package backends

 import (
 	"context"
+	"crypto/tls"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"net"
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@ type ConnectionPool struct {
 type PoolConfig struct {
 	Address           string
 	Password          string
+	TLSServerName     string // SNI server name; defaults to host(Address) when empty
 	DB                int
 	MaxConnections    int
 	ConnectTimeout    time.Duration
@@ -39,6 +41,8 @@ type PoolConfig struct {
 	EnableHealthCheck bool          // Enable connection health validation
 	MaxRetries        int           // Max retries for failed operations
 	RetryDelay        time.Duration // Initial delay between retries
+	EnableTLS         bool          // Wrap connection with TLS (e.g. AWS ElastiCache in-transit encryption)
+	TLSSkipVerify     bool          // Skip server certificate verification (escape hatch; not recommended)
 }

 // NewConnectionPool creates a new connection pool
@@ -96,7 +100,7 @@ func (p *ConnectionPool) Get(ctx context.Context) (*RedisConn, error) {
 			// No available connection, create new one if under limit
 			// #nosec G115 -- MaxConnections is a small config value that fits in int32
 			if p.totalConns.Load() < int32(p.config.MaxConnections) {
-				conn, err = p.createConnection()
+				conn, err = p.createConnection(ctx)
 				if err != nil {
 					// If this is the last attempt, return error
 					if attempt == maxAttempts-1 {
@@ -193,13 +197,31 @@ func (p *ConnectionPool) Stats() map[string]interface{} {
 }

 // createConnection creates a new Redis connection
-func (p *ConnectionPool) createConnection() (*RedisConn, error) {
+func (p *ConnectionPool) createConnection(ctx context.Context) (*RedisConn, error) {
 	// Connect with timeout
 	dialer := &net.Dialer{
 		Timeout: p.config.ConnectTimeout,
 	}

-	conn, err := dialer.Dial("tcp", p.config.Address)
+	var conn net.Conn
+	var err error
+	if p.config.EnableTLS {
+		serverName := p.config.TLSServerName
+		if serverName == "" {
+			if host, _, splitErr := net.SplitHostPort(p.config.Address); splitErr == nil {
+				serverName = host
+			}
+		}
+		tlsCfg := &tls.Config{
+			ServerName:         serverName,
+			InsecureSkipVerify: p.config.TLSSkipVerify, // #nosec G402 -- opt-in escape hatch via TLSSkipVerify config
+			MinVersion:         tls.VersionTLS12,
+		}
+		tlsDialer := &tls.Dialer{NetDialer: dialer, Config: tlsCfg}
+		conn, err = tlsDialer.DialContext(ctx, "tcp", p.config.Address)
+	} else {
+		conn, err = dialer.DialContext(ctx, "tcp", p.config.Address)
+	}
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to connect to Redis: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -0,0 +1,230 @@
+package backends
+
+import (
+	"bufio"
+	"context"
+	"crypto/ecdsa"
+	"crypto/elliptic"
+	"crypto/rand"
+	"crypto/tls"
+	"crypto/x509"
+	"crypto/x509/pkix"
+	"math/big"
+	"net"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+// drainRESPRequest consumes a single RESP request (array or inline) from r and
+// returns true on success. Any read error returns false.
+func drainRESPRequest(r *bufio.Reader) bool {
+	header, err := r.ReadString('\n')
+	if err != nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(header, "*") {
+		return true // inline command (single line) — already consumed
+	}
+	n, err := strconv.Atoi(strings.TrimRight(strings.TrimPrefix(header, "*"), "\r\n"))
+	if err != nil || n <= 0 {
+		return false
+	}
+	for i := 0; i < n; i++ {
+		// Each bulk: "$len\r\n<bytes>\r\n"
+		if _, err := r.ReadString('\n'); err != nil {
+			return false
+		}
+		if _, err := r.ReadString('\n'); err != nil {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
+// startTLSPingServer spins up a TLS listener that speaks just enough RESP to
+// answer PING with +PONG. Returns the listener address and a self-signed cert.
+func startTLSPingServer(t *testing.T) (addr string, certPEM []byte, stop func()) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	priv, err := ecdsa.GenerateKey(elliptic.P256(), rand.Reader)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	template := &x509.Certificate{
+		SerialNumber: big.NewInt(1),
+		Subject:      pkix.Name{CommonName: "localhost"},
+		NotBefore:    time.Now().Add(-time.Hour),
+		NotAfter:     time.Now().Add(time.Hour),
+		KeyUsage:     x509.KeyUsageDigitalSignature | x509.KeyUsageKeyEncipherment,
+		ExtKeyUsage:  []x509.ExtKeyUsage{x509.ExtKeyUsageServerAuth},
+		DNSNames:     []string{"localhost"},
+		IPAddresses:  []net.IP{net.ParseIP("127.0.0.1")},
+	}
+	der, err := x509.CreateCertificate(rand.Reader, template, template, &priv.PublicKey, priv)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	tlsCert := tls.Certificate{
+		Certificate: [][]byte{der},
+		PrivateKey:  priv,
+	}
+
+	listener, err := tls.Listen("tcp", "127.0.0.1:0", &tls.Config{
+		Certificates: []tls.Certificate{tlsCert},
+		MinVersion:   tls.VersionTLS12,
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	var wg sync.WaitGroup
+	stopCh := make(chan struct{})
+
+	wg.Add(1)
+	go func() {
+		defer wg.Done()
+		for {
+			select {
+			case <-stopCh:
+				return
+			default:
+			}
+			c, acceptErr := listener.Accept()
+			if acceptErr != nil {
+				return
+			}
+			wg.Add(1)
+			go func(conn net.Conn) {
+				defer wg.Done()
+				defer conn.Close()
+				reader := bufio.NewReader(conn)
+				for {
+					_ = conn.SetReadDeadline(time.Now().Add(2 * time.Second))
+					if !drainRESPRequest(reader) {
+						return
+					}
+					_, _ = conn.Write([]byte("+PONG\r\n"))
+				}
+			}(c)
+		}
+	}()
+
+	stop = func() {
+		close(stopCh)
+		_ = listener.Close()
+		wg.Wait()
+	}
+	return listener.Addr().String(), der, stop
+}
+
+// TestConnectionPool_TLSDial_SkipVerify verifies that EnableTLS=true with
+// TLSSkipVerify=true successfully negotiates TLS and exchanges a Redis command.
+// Regression test for issue #133 (enableTLS not propagated to client).
+func TestConnectionPool_TLSDial_SkipVerify(t *testing.T) {
+	addr, _, stop := startTLSPingServer(t)
+	defer stop()
+
+	pool, err := NewConnectionPool(&PoolConfig{
+		Address:        addr,
+		MaxConnections: 2,
+		ConnectTimeout: 2 * time.Second,
+		ReadTimeout:    1 * time.Second,
+		WriteTimeout:   1 * time.Second,
+		EnableTLS:      true,
+		TLSSkipVerify:  true,
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer pool.Close()
+
+	conn, err := pool.Get(context.Background())
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NotNil(t, conn)
+	defer pool.Put(conn)
+
+	resp, err := conn.Do("PING")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "PONG", resp)
+}
+
+// TestConnectionPool_TLSDial_VerifyFails verifies that EnableTLS=true with
+// TLSSkipVerify=false rejects a self-signed server cert.
+func TestConnectionPool_TLSDial_VerifyFails(t *testing.T) {
+	addr, _, stop := startTLSPingServer(t)
+	defer stop()
+
+	pool, err := NewConnectionPool(&PoolConfig{
+		Address:        addr,
+		MaxConnections: 2,
+		ConnectTimeout: 2 * time.Second,
+		ReadTimeout:    1 * time.Second,
+		WriteTimeout:   1 * time.Second,
+		EnableTLS:      true,
+		TLSSkipVerify:  false,
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer pool.Close()
+
+	_, err = pool.Get(context.Background())
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, strings.ToLower(err.Error()), "tls")
+}
+
+// TestConnectionPool_TLSDial_PlainServerRejected verifies that EnableTLS=true
+// fails to handshake against a plain (non-TLS) listener.
+func TestConnectionPool_TLSDial_PlainServerRejected(t *testing.T) {
+	plain, err := net.Listen("tcp", "127.0.0.1:0")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer plain.Close()
+
+	go func() {
+		for {
+			c, acceptErr := plain.Accept()
+			if acceptErr != nil {
+				return
+			}
+			_ = c.Close()
+		}
+	}()
+
+	pool, err := NewConnectionPool(&PoolConfig{
+		Address:        plain.Addr().String(),
+		MaxConnections: 1,
+		ConnectTimeout: 1 * time.Second,
+		ReadTimeout:    1 * time.Second,
+		WriteTimeout:   1 * time.Second,
+		EnableTLS:      true,
+		TLSSkipVerify:  true,
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer pool.Close()
+
+	_, err = pool.Get(context.Background())
+	require.Error(t, err)
+}
+
+// TestConnectionPool_PlainDial_StillWorks ensures non-TLS path is unaffected
+// when EnableTLS=false (default).
+func TestConnectionPool_PlainDial_StillWorks(t *testing.T) {
+	mr := NewMiniredisServer(t)
+
+	pool, err := NewConnectionPool(&PoolConfig{
+		Address:        mr.GetAddr(),
+		MaxConnections: 1,
+		ConnectTimeout: 2 * time.Second,
+		ReadTimeout:    1 * time.Second,
+		WriteTimeout:   1 * time.Second,
+		EnableTLS:      false,
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer pool.Close()
+
+	conn, err := pool.Get(context.Background())
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer pool.Put(conn)
+
+	resp, err := conn.Do("PING")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "PONG", resp)
+}
@@ -0,0 +1,135 @@
+package traefikoidc
+
+import (
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+// TestIssue132_RefreshTokenHonorsUserIdentifierClaim reproduces and verifies
+// the fix for issue #132: token refresh path hardcoded the "email" claim and
+// ignored the configured userIdentifierClaim. Keycloak users without an email
+// claim (using sub or another identifier) were being kicked out on refresh
+// even though their initial login worked.
+//
+// The callback path (auth_flow.go) already honored userIdentifierClaim with
+// "sub" fallback. The refresh path (token_manager.go) had drifted out of sync
+// after PR #100 (commit a316a98).
+func TestIssue132_RefreshTokenHonorsUserIdentifierClaim(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		claims              map[string]any
+		name                string
+		userIdentifierClaim string
+		expectedIdentifier  string
+		expectSuccess       bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name:                "sub claim configured, only sub present (Keycloak no-email case)",
+			userIdentifierClaim: "sub",
+			claims: map[string]any{
+				"sub": "user-uuid-keycloak-12345",
+				"exp": float64(9999999999),
+			},
+			expectSuccess:      true,
+			expectedIdentifier: "user-uuid-keycloak-12345",
+		},
+		{
+			name:                "preferred_username configured, claim present",
+			userIdentifierClaim: "preferred_username",
+			claims: map[string]any{
+				"sub":                "user-uuid-12345",
+				"preferred_username": "alice",
+				"exp":                float64(9999999999),
+			},
+			expectSuccess:      true,
+			expectedIdentifier: "alice",
+		},
+		{
+			name:                "configured claim missing, falls back to sub",
+			userIdentifierClaim: "preferred_username",
+			claims: map[string]any{
+				"sub": "fallback-sub-id",
+				"exp": float64(9999999999),
+			},
+			expectSuccess:      true,
+			expectedIdentifier: "fallback-sub-id",
+		},
+		{
+			name:                "email default, email present (backward compatibility)",
+			userIdentifierClaim: "email",
+			claims: map[string]any{
+				"sub":   "user-uuid-12345",
+				"email": "user@example.com",
+				"exp":   float64(9999999999),
+			},
+			expectSuccess:      true,
+			expectedIdentifier: "user@example.com",
+		},
+		{
+			name:                "email default, no email and no sub - refresh fails",
+			userIdentifierClaim: "email",
+			claims: map[string]any{
+				"exp": float64(9999999999),
+			},
+			expectSuccess:      false,
+			expectedIdentifier: "",
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			sessionManager, err := NewSessionManager(
+				"test-encryption-key-32-bytes-long!!",
+				false,
+				"",
+				"",
+				0,
+				NewLogger("error"),
+			)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("session manager: %v", err)
+			}
+			defer sessionManager.Shutdown()
+
+			capturedClaims := tt.claims
+			tOidc := &TraefikOidc{
+				logger:              NewLogger("error"),
+				userIdentifierClaim: tt.userIdentifierClaim,
+				sessionManager:      sessionManager,
+				tokenExchanger: &EnhancedMockTokenExchanger{
+					RefreshResponse: &TokenResponse{
+						AccessToken:  "new-access-token",
+						RefreshToken: "new-refresh-token",
+						IDToken:      "new-id-token-jwt",
+						ExpiresIn:    3600,
+					},
+				},
+				tokenVerifier: &EnhancedMockTokenVerifier{Err: nil},
+				extractClaimsFunc: func(token string) (map[string]any, error) {
+					return capturedClaims, nil
+				},
+			}
+
+			req := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, "/protected", nil)
+			rw := httptest.NewRecorder()
+
+			session, err := sessionManager.GetSession(req)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("get session: %v", err)
+			}
+			defer session.returnToPoolSafely()
+
+			session.SetRefreshToken("initial-refresh-token")
+
+			refreshed := tOidc.refreshToken(rw, req, session)
+
+			if refreshed != tt.expectSuccess {
+				t.Fatalf("refreshToken() = %v, want %v", refreshed, tt.expectSuccess)
+			}
+
+			if got := session.GetUserIdentifier(); got != tt.expectedIdentifier {
+				t.Errorf("session.GetUserIdentifier() = %q, want %q", got, tt.expectedIdentifier)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
@@ -79,34 +79,186 @@ func TestServeHTTP_ExcludedURLs(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }

-// TestServeHTTP_EventStream tests the event-stream bypass functionality
+// TestServeHTTP_EventStream tests the event-stream (SSE) bypass: the
+// handshake must skip the OIDC redirect dance (clients can't follow it
+// mid-stream) but it must STILL require an authenticated session, otherwise
+// any caller could reach the backend by setting Accept: text/event-stream.
 func TestServeHTTP_EventStream(t *testing.T) {
-	nextCalled := false
-	next := http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
-		nextCalled = true
-		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
+	sessionManager := createTestSessionManager(t)
+
+	newOidc := func(next http.Handler) *TraefikOidc {
+		oidc := &TraefikOidc{
+			next:                   next,
+			logger:                 NewLogger("debug"),
+			initComplete:           make(chan struct{}),
+			sessionManager:         sessionManager,
+			firstRequestReceived:   true,
+			metadataRefreshStarted: true,
+			issuerURL:              "https://provider.example.com",
+		}
+		close(oidc.initComplete)
+		return oidc
+	}
+
+	t.Run("unauthenticated_request_is_rejected", func(t *testing.T) {
+		nextCalled := false
+		oidc := newOidc(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+			nextCalled = true
+			w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
+		}))
+
+		req := httptest.NewRequest("GET", "/events", nil)
+		req.Header.Set("Accept", "text/event-stream")
+		rw := httptest.NewRecorder()
+
+		oidc.ServeHTTP(rw, req)
+
+		if rw.Code != http.StatusUnauthorized {
+			t.Errorf("expected 401 for unauthenticated SSE request, got %d", rw.Code)
+		}
+		if nextCalled {
+			t.Error("backend handler must NOT be called for unauthenticated SSE bypass")
+		}
 	})

-	oidc := &TraefikOidc{
-		next:                   next,
-		logger:                 NewLogger("debug"),
-		initComplete:           make(chan struct{}),
-		sessionManager:         createTestSessionManager(t),
-		firstRequestReceived:   true,
-		metadataRefreshStarted: true,
-		issuerURL:              "https://provider.example.com",
+	t.Run("authenticated_request_bypasses_to_backend", func(t *testing.T) {
+		nextCalled := false
+		var forwardedUser string
+		oidc := newOidc(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+			nextCalled = true
+			forwardedUser = r.Header.Get("X-Forwarded-User")
+			w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
+		}))
+
+		req := httptest.NewRequest("GET", "/events", nil)
+		req.Header.Set("Accept", "text/event-stream")
+
+		// Build an authenticated session and inject its cookies onto req.
+		session, err := sessionManager.GetSession(req)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("failed to create test session: %v", err)
+		}
+		session.SetUserIdentifier("user@example.com")
+		if err := session.SetAuthenticated(true); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("failed to mark session authenticated: %v", err)
+		}
+		setupRW := httptest.NewRecorder()
+		if err := session.Save(req, setupRW); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("failed to save session: %v", err)
+		}
+		for _, c := range setupRW.Result().Cookies() {
+			req.AddCookie(c)
+		}
+
+		rw := httptest.NewRecorder()
+		oidc.ServeHTTP(rw, req)
+
+		if !nextCalled {
+			t.Fatal("expected authenticated SSE request to be forwarded to backend")
+		}
+		if forwardedUser != "user@example.com" {
+			t.Errorf("expected X-Forwarded-User=user@example.com, got %q", forwardedUser)
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+// TestServeHTTP_WebSocketUpgrade mirrors the SSE behavior: WebSocket
+// handshake bypasses the OIDC redirect (clients can't follow it) but the
+// session must already be authenticated, otherwise the backend is exposed
+// to any caller setting `Connection: Upgrade` + `Upgrade: websocket`.
+func TestServeHTTP_WebSocketUpgrade(t *testing.T) {
+	sessionManager := createTestSessionManager(t)
+
+	newOidc := func(next http.Handler) *TraefikOidc {
+		oidc := &TraefikOidc{
+			next:                   next,
+			logger:                 NewLogger("debug"),
+			initComplete:           make(chan struct{}),
+			sessionManager:         sessionManager,
+			firstRequestReceived:   true,
+			metadataRefreshStarted: true,
+			issuerURL:              "https://provider.example.com",
+		}
+		close(oidc.initComplete)
+		return oidc
 	}
-	close(oidc.initComplete)

-	req := httptest.NewRequest("GET", "/events", nil)
-	req.Header.Set("Accept", "text/event-stream")
-	rw := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	t.Run("unauthenticated_upgrade_is_rejected", func(t *testing.T) {
+		nextCalled := false
+		oidc := newOidc(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+			nextCalled = true
+		}))

-	oidc.ServeHTTP(rw, req)
+		req := httptest.NewRequest("GET", "/ws", nil)
+		req.Header.Set("Connection", "Upgrade")
+		req.Header.Set("Upgrade", "websocket")
+		rw := httptest.NewRecorder()

-	if !nextCalled {
-		t.Error("expected event-stream request to bypass OIDC")
-	}
+		oidc.ServeHTTP(rw, req)
+
+		if rw.Code != http.StatusUnauthorized {
+			t.Errorf("expected 401 for unauthenticated WS upgrade, got %d", rw.Code)
+		}
+		if nextCalled {
+			t.Error("backend handler must NOT be called for unauthenticated WS bypass")
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("authenticated_upgrade_bypasses_to_backend", func(t *testing.T) {
+		nextCalled := false
+		var forwardedUser string
+		oidc := newOidc(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+			nextCalled = true
+			forwardedUser = r.Header.Get("X-Forwarded-User")
+		}))
+
+		req := httptest.NewRequest("GET", "/ws", nil)
+		// Mixed-case + multi-token Connection header to exercise parsing.
+		req.Header.Set("Connection", "keep-alive, Upgrade")
+		req.Header.Set("Upgrade", "WebSocket")
+
+		session, err := sessionManager.GetSession(req)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("failed to create test session: %v", err)
+		}
+		session.SetUserIdentifier("ws-user@example.com")
+		if err := session.SetAuthenticated(true); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("failed to mark session authenticated: %v", err)
+		}
+		setupRW := httptest.NewRecorder()
+		if err := session.Save(req, setupRW); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("failed to save session: %v", err)
+		}
+		for _, c := range setupRW.Result().Cookies() {
+			req.AddCookie(c)
+		}
+
+		rw := httptest.NewRecorder()
+		oidc.ServeHTTP(rw, req)
+
+		if !nextCalled {
+			t.Fatal("expected authenticated WS handshake to be forwarded to backend")
+		}
+		if forwardedUser != "ws-user@example.com" {
+			t.Errorf("expected X-Forwarded-User=ws-user@example.com, got %q", forwardedUser)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("plain_http_does_not_bypass", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Sanity: requests without Upgrade headers must NOT hit the WS
+		// bypass branch (otherwise the new code path could short-circuit
+		// normal authentication).
+		oidc := newOidc(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+			t.Fatal("backend must not be called for unauthenticated plain HTTP")
+		}))
+		req := httptest.NewRequest("GET", "/ws", nil)
+		req.Header.Set("Connection", "keep-alive")
+		rw := httptest.NewRecorder()
+		oidc.ServeHTTP(rw, req)
+		if rw.Code == http.StatusOK {
+			t.Errorf("expected redirect or 401 for plain HTTP without auth, got 200")
+		}
+	})
 }

 // TestServeHTTP_InitializationTimeout tests initialization timeout handling
@@ -256,7 +408,7 @@ func TestProcessAuthorizedRequest(t *testing.T) {
 			name: "successful authorization with email",
 			setupSession: func() *MockSessionData {
 				session := &MockSessionData{
-					email:        "user@example.com",
+					userIdentifier: "user@example.com",
 					idToken:      "test-id-token",
 					accessToken:  "test-access-token",
 					isDirty:      false,
@@ -288,7 +440,7 @@ func TestProcessAuthorizedRequest(t *testing.T) {
 			name: "no email triggers reauth",
 			setupSession: func() *MockSessionData {
 				return &MockSessionData{
-					email:       "",
+					userIdentifier: "",
 					idToken:     "test-id-token",
 					accessToken: "test-access-token",
 				}
@@ -309,7 +461,7 @@ func TestProcessAuthorizedRequest(t *testing.T) {
 			name: "roles and groups authorization",
 			setupSession: func() *MockSessionData {
 				return &MockSessionData{
-					email:       "user@example.com",
+					userIdentifier: "user@example.com",
 					idToken:     "test-id-token",
 					accessToken: "test-access-token",
 				}
@@ -342,7 +494,7 @@ func TestProcessAuthorizedRequest(t *testing.T) {
 			name: "unauthorized role/group returns 403",
 			setupSession: func() *MockSessionData {
 				return &MockSessionData{
-					email:       "user@example.com",
+					userIdentifier: "user@example.com",
 					idToken:     "test-id-token",
 					accessToken: "test-access-token",
 				}
@@ -369,7 +521,7 @@ func TestProcessAuthorizedRequest(t *testing.T) {
 			name: "template headers processing",
 			setupSession: func() *MockSessionData {
 				return &MockSessionData{
-					email:       "user@example.com",
+					userIdentifier: "user@example.com",
 					idToken:     "test-id-token",
 					accessToken: "test-access-token",
 					isDirty:     false,
@@ -401,7 +553,7 @@ func TestProcessAuthorizedRequest(t *testing.T) {
 			name: "OPTIONS request with CORS",
 			setupSession: func() *MockSessionData {
 				return &MockSessionData{
-					email:       "user@example.com",
+					userIdentifier: "user@example.com",
 					idToken:     "test-id-token",
 					accessToken: "test-access-token",
 				}
@@ -452,7 +604,7 @@ func TestProcessAuthorizedRequest(t *testing.T) {
 				manager: &SessionManager{logger: NewLogger("debug")},
 			}
 			// Copy values from mock to concrete session
-			concreteSession.SetEmail(session.email)
+			concreteSession.SetUserIdentifier(session.userIdentifier)
 			concreteSession.SetIDToken(session.idToken)
 			concreteSession.SetAccessToken(session.accessToken)
 			concreteSession.SetRefreshToken(session.refreshToken)
@@ -502,23 +654,23 @@ func TestProcessAuthorizedRequest(t *testing.T) {

 // MockSessionData is a test implementation of SessionData interface
 type MockSessionData struct {
-	email         string
-	idToken       string
-	accessToken   string
-	refreshToken  string
-	csrf          string
-	nonce         string
-	codeVerifier  string
-	redirectCount int
-	authenticated bool
-	isDirty       bool
+	userIdentifier string
+	idToken        string
+	accessToken    string
+	refreshToken   string
+	csrf           string
+	nonce          string
+	codeVerifier   string
+	redirectCount  int
+	authenticated  bool
+	isDirty        bool
 }

-func (m *MockSessionData) GetEmail() string                                   { return m.email }
+func (m *MockSessionData) GetUserIdentifier() string                          { return m.userIdentifier }
 func (m *MockSessionData) GetIDToken() string                                 { return m.idToken }
 func (m *MockSessionData) GetAccessToken() string                             { return m.accessToken }
 func (m *MockSessionData) GetRefreshToken() string                            { return m.refreshToken }
-func (m *MockSessionData) SetEmail(email string)                              { m.email = email }
+func (m *MockSessionData) SetUserIdentifier(userIdentifier string)            { m.userIdentifier = userIdentifier }
 func (m *MockSessionData) SetIDToken(token string)                            { m.idToken = token }
 func (m *MockSessionData) SetAccessToken(token string)                        { m.accessToken = token }
 func (m *MockSessionData) SetRefreshToken(token string)                       { m.refreshToken = token }
@@ -610,7 +762,7 @@ func TestMinimalHeaders(t *testing.T) {
 			}

 			// Set up session data
-			session.SetEmail("user@example.com")
+			session.SetUserIdentifier("user@example.com")
 			session.SetAuthenticated(true)

 			// Call processAuthorizedRequest directly
@@ -685,7 +837,7 @@ func TestMinimalHeaders_TokenHeaderNotSet(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("Failed to get session: %v", err)
 	}

-	session.SetEmail("user@example.com")
+	session.SetUserIdentifier("user@example.com")
 	session.SetAuthenticated(true)

 	oidc.processAuthorizedRequest(rw, req, session, "https://example.com/callback")
@@ -771,7 +923,7 @@ func TestStripAuthCookies(t *testing.T) {
 			if err != nil {
 				t.Fatalf("Failed to get session: %v", err)
 			}
-			session.SetEmail("user@example.com")
+			session.SetUserIdentifier("user@example.com")
 			session.SetAuthenticated(true)

 			// Now add OIDC session cookies (simulating what the browser would send)
@@ -852,7 +1004,7 @@ func TestStripAuthCookies_NoCookies(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Failed to get session: %v", err)
 	}
-	session.SetEmail("user@example.com")
+	session.SetUserIdentifier("user@example.com")
 	session.SetAuthenticated(true)

 	oidc.processAuthorizedRequest(rw, req, session, "https://example.com/callback")
@@ -899,7 +1051,7 @@ func TestStripAuthCookies_OnlyOIDCCookies(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Failed to get session: %v", err)
 	}
-	session.SetEmail("user@example.com")
+	session.SetUserIdentifier("user@example.com")
 	session.SetAuthenticated(true)

 	// Add only OIDC cookies
@@ -950,7 +1102,7 @@ func TestStripAuthCookies_OnlyAppCookies(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Failed to get session: %v", err)
 	}
-	session.SetEmail("user@example.com")
+	session.SetUserIdentifier("user@example.com")
 	session.SetAuthenticated(true)

 	// Add only non-OIDC cookies
@@ -1013,7 +1165,7 @@ func TestStripAuthCookies_CustomPrefix(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Failed to get session: %v", err)
 	}
-	session.SetEmail("user@example.com")
+	session.SetUserIdentifier("user@example.com")
 	session.SetAuthenticated(true)

 	// Add cookies with the custom prefix (should be stripped)
@@ -580,7 +580,7 @@ func TestServeHTTP(t *testing.T) {
 			requestPath: "/protected",
 			setupSession: func(session *SessionData) {
 				session.SetAuthenticated(true)
-				session.SetEmail("user@example.com")
+				session.SetUserIdentifier("user@example.com")
 				// Generate a fresh valid token for this test case to avoid replay issues
 				freshToken, _ := createTestJWT(ts.rsaPrivateKey, "RS256", "test-key-id", map[string]interface{}{
 					"iss": "https://test-issuer.com", "aud": "test-client-id", "exp": time.Now().Add(1 * time.Hour).Unix(),
@@ -603,7 +603,7 @@ func TestServeHTTP(t *testing.T) {
 				// even if session.SetAuthenticated(true) was called.
 				// We rely on needsRefresh=true and the presence of the refresh token to trigger the refresh attempt.
 				session.SetAuthenticated(true) // Set flag initially, though isUserAuthenticated will override based on token
-				session.SetEmail("user@example.com")
+				session.SetUserIdentifier("user@example.com")
 				// Create an expired token for this test
 				expiredToken, _ := createTestJWT(ts.rsaPrivateKey, "RS256", "test-key-id", map[string]interface{}{
 					"iss": "https://test-issuer.com", "aud": "test-client-id", "exp": time.Now().Add(-1 * time.Hour).Unix(),
@@ -660,7 +660,7 @@ func TestServeHTTP(t *testing.T) {
 			requestPath: "/callback/logout", // Match the default logout path set in TestSuite.Setup
 			setupSession: func(session *SessionData) {
 				session.SetAuthenticated(true)
-				session.SetEmail("user@example.com")
+				session.SetUserIdentifier("user@example.com")
 				// Generate a fresh valid token for this test case
 				freshToken, _ := createTestJWT(ts.rsaPrivateKey, "RS256", "test-key-id", map[string]interface{}{
 					"iss": "https://test-issuer.com", "aud": "test-client-id", "exp": time.Now().Add(1 * time.Hour).Unix(),
@@ -678,7 +678,7 @@ func TestServeHTTP(t *testing.T) {
 			requestPath: "/protected",
 			setupSession: func(session *SessionData) {
 				session.SetAuthenticated(true) // Set flag initially
-				session.SetEmail("user@example.com")
+				session.SetUserIdentifier("user@example.com")
 				// Create an expired token for this test
 				expiredToken, _ := createTestJWT(ts.rsaPrivateKey, "RS256", "test-key-id", map[string]interface{}{
 					"iss": "https://test-issuer.com", "aud": "test-client-id", "exp": time.Now().Add(-1 * time.Hour).Unix(),
@@ -706,7 +706,7 @@ func TestServeHTTP(t *testing.T) {
 			requestPath: "/protected",
 			setupSession: func(session *SessionData) {
 				session.SetAuthenticated(true) // Set flag initially
-				session.SetEmail("user@example.com")
+				session.SetUserIdentifier("user@example.com")
 				// Create an expired token for this test
 				expiredToken, _ := createTestJWT(ts.rsaPrivateKey, "RS256", "test-key-id", map[string]interface{}{
 					"iss": "https://test-issuer.com", "aud": "test-client-id", "exp": time.Now().Add(-1 * time.Hour).Unix(),
@@ -741,7 +741,7 @@ func TestServeHTTP(t *testing.T) {
 					"sub": "test-subject", "email": "user@example.com", "jti": generateRandomString(16),
 				})
 				session.SetAuthenticated(true)
-				session.SetEmail("user@example.com")
+				session.SetUserIdentifier("user@example.com")
 				session.SetAccessToken(nearExpiryToken)
 				session.SetRefreshToken("valid-refresh-token-for-near-expiry") // Refresh token MUST exist for proactive refresh
 			},
@@ -772,7 +772,7 @@ func TestServeHTTP(t *testing.T) {
 					"sub": "test-subject", "email": "user@example.com", "jti": generateRandomString(16),
 				})
 				session.SetAuthenticated(true)
-				session.SetEmail("user@example.com")
+				session.SetUserIdentifier("user@example.com")
 				session.SetAccessToken(validToken)
 				session.SetIDToken(validToken) // Ensure ID token is also set
 				session.SetRefreshToken("should-not-be-used-refresh-token")
@@ -792,7 +792,7 @@ func TestServeHTTP(t *testing.T) {
 			requestPath: "/protected",
 			setupSession: func(session *SessionData) {
 				session.SetAuthenticated(true)
-				session.SetEmail("user@disallowed.com") // Use disallowed domain
+				session.SetUserIdentifier("user@disallowed.com") // Use disallowed domain
 				// Generate a fresh valid token for this test case
 				freshToken, _ := createTestJWT(ts.rsaPrivateKey, "RS256", "test-key-id", map[string]interface{}{
 					"iss": "https://test-issuer.com", "aud": "test-client-id", "exp": time.Now().Add(1 * time.Hour).Unix(),
@@ -814,7 +814,7 @@ func TestServeHTTP(t *testing.T) {
 			requestPath: "/protected",
 			setupSession: func(session *SessionData) {
 				session.SetAuthenticated(true)
-				session.SetEmail("user@disallowed.com") // Use disallowed domain
+				session.SetUserIdentifier("user@disallowed.com") // Use disallowed domain
 				// Generate a fresh valid token for this test case
 				freshToken, _ := createTestJWT(ts.rsaPrivateKey, "RS256", "test-key-id", map[string]interface{}{
 					"iss": "https://test-issuer.com", "aud": "test-client-id", "exp": time.Now().Add(1 * time.Hour).Unix(),
@@ -2179,7 +2179,7 @@ func TestHandleExpiredToken(t *testing.T) {
 					"sub": "test-subject", "email": "test@example.com", "jti": generateRandomString(16),
 				})
 				session.SetAccessToken(expiredToken)
-				session.SetEmail("test@example.com")
+				session.SetUserIdentifier("test@example.com")
 			},
 			expectedPath: "/original/path",
 		},
@@ -2756,7 +2756,7 @@ func TestServeHTTPRolesAndGroups(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			setupSession: func(session *SessionData) {
 				session.SetAuthenticated(true)
-				session.SetEmail("user@example.com")
+				session.SetUserIdentifier("user@example.com")
 			},
 			expectedStatus: http.StatusOK,
 			expectedHeaders: map[string]string{
@@ -2782,7 +2782,7 @@ func TestServeHTTPRolesAndGroups(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			setupSession: func(session *SessionData) {
 				session.SetAuthenticated(true)
-				session.SetEmail("user@example.com")
+				session.SetUserIdentifier("user@example.com")
 			},
 			expectedStatus: http.StatusOK,
 			expectedHeaders: map[string]string{
@@ -2809,7 +2809,7 @@ func TestServeHTTPRolesAndGroups(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			setupSession: func(session *SessionData) {
 				session.SetAuthenticated(true)
-				session.SetEmail("user@example.com")
+				session.SetUserIdentifier("user@example.com")
 			},
 			expectedStatus: http.StatusForbidden,
 		},
@@ -2829,7 +2829,7 @@ func TestServeHTTPRolesAndGroups(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			setupSession: func(session *SessionData) {
 				session.SetAuthenticated(true)
-				session.SetEmail("user@example.com")
+				session.SetUserIdentifier("user@example.com")
 			},
 			expectedStatus: http.StatusOK,
 			expectedHeaders: map[string]string{
@@ -2851,7 +2851,7 @@ func TestServeHTTPRolesAndGroups(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			setupSession: func(session *SessionData) {
 				session.SetAuthenticated(true)
-				session.SetEmail("user@example.com")
+				session.SetUserIdentifier("user@example.com")
 			},
 			expectedStatus:  http.StatusOK,
 			expectedHeaders: map[string]string{},
@@ -14,21 +14,40 @@ import (
 )

 // bypassReason describes why a request is being forwarded without OIDC auth.
-// It is only used for logging and to decide whether extra SSE-specific work
+// It is only used for logging and to decide whether extra side-effects
 // (propagating the user header from an existing session) should run.
 const (
-	bypassReasonExcluded = "excluded-url"
-	bypassReasonSSE      = "sse"
+	bypassReasonExcluded  = "excluded-url"
+	bypassReasonSSE       = "sse"
+	bypassReasonWebSocket = "websocket"
 )

+// isWebSocketUpgrade reports whether req is a WebSocket upgrade handshake
+// (RFC 6455). The middleware can only see the handshake; once Traefik
+// completes the upgrade it forwards frames directly, so we never re-process
+// per-frame traffic. We bypass auth on the handshake the same way we do for
+// SSE, because browser WebSocket clients cannot follow an OIDC redirect.
+func isWebSocketUpgrade(req *http.Request) bool {
+	if !strings.EqualFold(req.Header.Get("Upgrade"), "websocket") {
+		return false
+	}
+	for _, token := range strings.Split(req.Header.Get("Connection"), ",") {
+		if strings.EqualFold(strings.TrimSpace(token), "upgrade") {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
 // shouldBypassAuth decides whether a request must skip OIDC authentication
 // entirely. It returns (true, reason) when either the request path matches a
-// configured excluded URL or the Accept header asks for a text/event-stream
-// response (SSE). The reason lets ServeHTTP apply any side-effects that are
-// unique to the bypass kind (e.g. propagating user headers for SSE).
+// configured excluded URL, the Accept header asks for a text/event-stream
+// response (SSE), or the request is a WebSocket upgrade handshake. The
+// reason lets ServeHTTP apply any side-effects that are unique to the bypass
+// kind (e.g. propagating user headers).
 //
-// This must be called BEFORE waiting on t.initComplete so excluded and SSE
-// traffic is never blocked by a slow/broken provider.
+// This must be called BEFORE waiting on t.initComplete so excluded, SSE and
+// WebSocket traffic is never blocked by a slow/broken provider.
 func (t *TraefikOidc) shouldBypassAuth(req *http.Request) (bool, string) {
 	if t.determineExcludedURL(req.URL.Path) {
 		return true, bypassReasonExcluded
@@ -36,38 +55,55 @@ func (t *TraefikOidc) shouldBypassAuth(req *http.Request) (bool, string) {
 	if strings.Contains(req.Header.Get("Accept"), "text/event-stream") {
 		return true, bypassReasonSSE
 	}
+	if isWebSocketUpgrade(req) {
+		return true, bypassReasonWebSocket
+	}
 	return false, ""
 }

-// applySSEUserHeaders attempts to copy the authenticated user's identity from
-// an existing session onto the outgoing SSE request so downstream services
-// can still see who the user is. Failures are logged (not silenced) because
-// they indicate either a corrupt cookie or a misconfigured session manager
-// and are useful for debugging, but they never block the bypass itself.
-func (t *TraefikOidc) applySSEUserHeaders(req *http.Request) {
+// applyBypassUserHeaders enforces authentication on SSE / WebSocket bypass
+// requests and, on success, copies the authenticated user's identity onto
+// the outgoing request so downstream services can see who the user is.
+//
+// Returns true when the request carries a valid authenticated session and
+// the bypass should proceed. Returns false when no usable session is
+// present; callers must then reject the request (typically with 401) to
+// prevent unauthenticated traffic from reaching the backend just by setting
+// `Accept: text/event-stream` or sending a WebSocket upgrade.
+//
+// The check is cookie-only: the session cookie is sealed by our encryption
+// key, so the authenticated flag cannot be forged. We do NOT run full token
+// signature verification here so that SSE/WS keeps working when the OIDC
+// provider is briefly unavailable for JWK fetches.
+func (t *TraefikOidc) applyBypassUserHeaders(req *http.Request, reason string) bool {
 	if t.sessionManager == nil {
-		return
+		return false
 	}

 	session, err := t.sessionManager.GetSession(req)
 	if err != nil {
-		// Intentionally not fatal: SSE requests bypass auth, we just lose the
-		// forwarded-user header for this request.
-		t.logger.Debugf("SSE bypass: unable to load session for user header propagation: %v", err)
-		return
+		t.logger.Debugf("%s bypass: unable to load session: %v", reason, err)
+		return false
 	}
 	defer session.returnToPoolSafely()

-	email := session.GetEmail()
-	if email == "" {
-		return
+	if !session.GetAuthenticated() {
+		t.logger.Debugf("%s bypass: rejecting request without authenticated session", reason)
+		return false
 	}

-	req.Header.Set("X-Forwarded-User", email)
-	if !t.minimalHeaders {
-		req.Header.Set("X-Auth-Request-User", email)
+	userIdentifier := session.GetUserIdentifier()
+	if userIdentifier == "" {
+		t.logger.Debugf("%s bypass: rejecting request, session has no user identifier", reason)
+		return false
 	}
-	t.logger.Debugf("SSE bypass: forwarded user %s from session", email)
+
+	req.Header.Set("X-Forwarded-User", userIdentifier)
+	if !t.minimalHeaders {
+		req.Header.Set("X-Auth-Request-User", userIdentifier)
+	}
+	t.logger.Debugf("%s bypass: forwarded user %s from session", reason, userIdentifier)
+	return true
 }

 // ServeHTTP implements the main middleware logic for processing HTTP requests.
@@ -124,16 +160,32 @@ func (t *TraefikOidc) ServeHTTP(rw http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
 		t.firstRequestMutex.Unlock()
 	}

-	// Evaluate auth-bypass once, before waiting for initialization. Excluded URLs
-	// and SSE requests must not block on provider init. For SSE we additionally
-	// attempt to forward the user identity from an existing session (best
-	// effort) so downstream handlers still see X-Forwarded-User.
+	// Evaluate auth-bypass once, before waiting for initialization. Excluded
+	// URLs, SSE and WebSocket upgrade requests must not block on provider
+	// init. For SSE/WebSocket we ALSO require an authenticated session
+	// (cookie-only check, no JWK fetch) and otherwise return 401 — clients
+	// of in-flight streams can't follow an OIDC redirect, so forwarding
+	// unauthenticated traffic would silently expose the backend.
 	if bypass, reason := t.shouldBypassAuth(req); bypass {
 		t.logger.Debugf("Bypassing OIDC for %s (%s)", req.URL.Path, reason)
-		if reason == bypassReasonSSE {
-			t.applySSEUserHeaders(req)
+		switch reason {
+		case bypassReasonExcluded:
+			// Operator-declared excluded URLs forward unconditionally.
+			t.next.ServeHTTP(rw, req)
+		case bypassReasonSSE, bypassReasonWebSocket:
+			// Skip the OIDC redirect dance (clients can't follow it
+			// mid-stream) but still require an authenticated session.
+			// Otherwise an unauthenticated client could hit the backend
+			// just by setting Accept: text/event-stream or sending a
+			// WebSocket upgrade.
+			if !t.applyBypassUserHeaders(req, reason) {
+				t.sendErrorResponse(rw, req, "Authentication required", http.StatusUnauthorized)
+				return
+			}
+			t.next.ServeHTTP(rw, req)
+		default:
+			t.next.ServeHTTP(rw, req)
 		}
-		t.next.ServeHTTP(rw, req)
 		return
 	}

@@ -237,7 +289,7 @@ func (t *TraefikOidc) ServeHTTP(rw http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
 		return
 	}

-	userIdentifier := session.GetEmail() // GetEmail returns the stored user identifier (email or other claim)
+	userIdentifier := session.GetUserIdentifier()
 	// User authorization check
 	if authenticated && userIdentifier != "" {
 		if !t.isAllowedUser(userIdentifier) {
@@ -309,7 +361,7 @@ func (t *TraefikOidc) ServeHTTP(rw http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {

 		refreshed := t.refreshToken(rw, req, session)
 		if refreshed {
-			userIdentifier = session.GetEmail() // GetEmail returns the stored user identifier
+			userIdentifier = session.GetUserIdentifier()
 			if userIdentifier != "" && !t.isAllowedUser(userIdentifier) {
 				t.logger.Infof("User with refreshed token %s is not authorized", userIdentifier)
 				errorMsg := fmt.Sprintf("Access denied: You are not authorized to access this resource. To log out, visit: %s", t.logoutURLPath)
@@ -359,9 +411,9 @@ func (t *TraefikOidc) ServeHTTP(rw http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
 //   - session: The user's session data containing tokens and claims.
 //   - redirectURL: The callback URL for re-authentication if needed.
 func (t *TraefikOidc) processAuthorizedRequest(rw http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request, session *SessionData, redirectURL string) {
-	email := session.GetEmail()
-	if email == "" {
-		t.logger.Info("No email found in session during final processing, initiating re-auth")
+	userIdentifier := session.GetUserIdentifier()
+	if userIdentifier == "" {
+		t.logger.Info("No user identifier found in session during final processing, initiating re-auth")
 		// Reset redirect count to prevent loops when session is invalid
 		session.ResetRedirectCount()
 		t.defaultInitiateAuthentication(rw, req, session, redirectURL)
@@ -374,7 +426,7 @@ func (t *TraefikOidc) processAuthorizedRequest(rw http.ResponseWriter, req *http
 		if idToken != "" {
 			sid, sub, createdAt := t.extractSessionInfo(idToken)
 			if t.isSessionInvalidated(sid, sub, createdAt) {
-				t.logger.Infof("Session for user %s has been invalidated via IdP-initiated logout", email)
+				t.logger.Infof("Session for user %s has been invalidated via IdP-initiated logout", userIdentifier)
 				// Clear the session and redirect to login
 				if err := session.Clear(req, rw); err != nil {
 					t.logger.Errorf("Error clearing invalidated session: %v", err)
@@ -386,31 +438,52 @@ func (t *TraefikOidc) processAuthorizedRequest(rw http.ResponseWriter, req *http
 		}
 	}

-	tokenForClaims := session.GetIDToken()
-	if tokenForClaims == "" {
-		tokenForClaims = session.GetAccessToken()
-		if tokenForClaims == "" && len(t.allowedRolesAndGroups) > 0 {
-			t.logger.Error("No token available but roles/groups checks are required")
-			// Reset redirect count to prevent loops when token is missing
+	// Resolve ID-token claims at most once per request. SessionData caches
+	// the parsed claims keyed on the raw ID token, so concurrent dashboard
+	// panel requests on the same session don't repeatedly base64-decode and
+	// JSON-unmarshal the same JWT (a real cost under the yaegi interpreter
+	// that hosts Traefik plugins). idClaims is reused below by the
+	// header-templates branch.
+	idToken := session.GetIDToken()
+	var (
+		idClaims    map[string]interface{}
+		idClaimsErr error
+	)
+	if idToken != "" {
+		idClaims, idClaimsErr = session.GetIDTokenClaims(t.extractClaimsFunc)
+	}
+
+	// Choose which claims drive groups/roles extraction. Prefer the ID
+	// token (cached) and fall back to the access token if there is no ID
+	// token in the session — matching the prior behavior for opaque
+	// ID-token providers.
+	var (
+		groupClaims    map[string]interface{}
+		groupClaimsErr error
+	)
+	if idToken != "" {
+		groupClaims, groupClaimsErr = idClaims, idClaimsErr
+	} else if accessToken := session.GetAccessToken(); accessToken != "" {
+		groupClaims, groupClaimsErr = t.extractClaimsFunc(accessToken)
+	} else if len(t.allowedRolesAndGroups) > 0 {
+		t.logger.Error("No token available but roles/groups checks are required")
+		session.ResetRedirectCount()
+		t.defaultInitiateAuthentication(rw, req, session, redirectURL)
+		return
+	}
+
+	var groups, roles []string
+
+	if groupClaimsErr == nil && groupClaims != nil {
+		var err error
+		groups, roles, err = t.extractGroupsAndRolesFromClaims(groupClaims)
+		if err != nil && len(t.allowedRolesAndGroups) > 0 {
+			t.logger.Errorf("Failed to extract groups and roles: %v", err)
 			session.ResetRedirectCount()
 			t.defaultInitiateAuthentication(rw, req, session, redirectURL)
 			return
 		}
-	}
-
-	// Initialize empty slices
-	var groups, roles []string
-
-	if tokenForClaims != "" {
-		var err error
-		groups, roles, err = t.extractGroupsAndRoles(tokenForClaims)
-		if err != nil && len(t.allowedRolesAndGroups) > 0 {
-			t.logger.Errorf("Failed to extract groups and roles: %v", err)
-			// Reset redirect count to prevent loops when claim extraction fails
-			session.ResetRedirectCount()
-			t.defaultInitiateAuthentication(rw, req, session, redirectURL)
-			return
-		} else if err == nil {
+		if err == nil {
 			if len(groups) > 0 {
 				req.Header.Set("X-User-Groups", strings.Join(groups, ","))
 			}
@@ -429,54 +502,53 @@ func (t *TraefikOidc) processAuthorizedRequest(rw http.ResponseWriter, req *http
 			}
 		}
 		if !allowed {
-			t.logger.Infof("User with email %s does not have any allowed roles or groups", email)
+			t.logger.Infof("User %s does not have any allowed roles or groups", userIdentifier)
 			errorMsg := fmt.Sprintf("Access denied: You do not have any of the allowed roles or groups. To log out, visit: %s", t.logoutURLPath)
 			t.sendErrorResponse(rw, req, errorMsg, http.StatusForbidden)
 			return
 		}
 	}

-	req.Header.Set("X-Forwarded-User", email)
+	req.Header.Set("X-Forwarded-User", userIdentifier)

 	// When minimalHeaders is enabled, skip extra headers to prevent 431 errors
 	if !t.minimalHeaders {
 		req.Header.Set("X-Auth-Request-Redirect", req.URL.RequestURI())
-		req.Header.Set("X-Auth-Request-User", email)
-		if idToken := session.GetIDToken(); idToken != "" {
+		req.Header.Set("X-Auth-Request-User", userIdentifier)
+		if idToken != "" {
 			req.Header.Set("X-Auth-Request-Token", idToken)
 		}
 	}

 	if len(t.headerTemplates) > 0 {
-		// Reuse claims parsed earlier in this request if the ID token has not
-		// changed. Saves an unnecessary JWT parse on every authenticated
-		// request that uses headerTemplates.
-		claims, err := session.GetIDTokenClaims(t.extractClaimsFunc)
-		if err != nil {
-			t.logger.Errorf("Failed to extract claims from ID Token for template headers: %v", err)
+		if idClaimsErr != nil {
+			t.logger.Errorf("Failed to extract claims from ID Token for template headers: %v", idClaimsErr)
 		} else {
+			// idClaims may be nil when no ID token is present; templates
+			// referencing .Claims.* will simply produce empty values, which
+			// matches the prior behavior.
 			templateData := map[string]interface{}{
 				"AccessToken":  session.GetAccessToken(),
-				"IDToken":      session.GetIDToken(),
+				"IDToken":      idToken,
 				"RefreshToken": session.GetRefreshToken(),
-				"Claims":       claims,
+				"Claims":       idClaims,
 			}

 			for headerName, tmpl := range t.headerTemplates {
 				var buf bytes.Buffer
-
 				if err := tmpl.Execute(&buf, templateData); err != nil {
 					t.logger.Errorf("Failed to execute template for header %s: %v", headerName, err)
 					continue
 				}
 				headerValue := buf.String()
-
 				req.Header.Set(headerName, headerValue)
-
 				t.logger.Debugf("Set templated header %s = %s", headerName, headerValue)
 			}
-			session.MarkDirty()
-			t.logger.Debugf("Session marked dirty after templated header processing.")
+			// NOTE: templates only mutate request headers (not session state),
+			// so we deliberately do NOT MarkDirty / Save here. Previously every
+			// authenticated request with header templates re-encrypted and
+			// rewrote all session cookies, which was a measurable CPU and
+			// Set-Cookie tax on dashboards that poll many panels per second.
 		}
 	}

@@ -515,7 +587,7 @@ func (t *TraefikOidc) processAuthorizedRequest(rw http.ResponseWriter, req *http
 		}
 	}

-	t.logger.Debugf("Request authorized for user %s, forwarding to next handler", email)
+	t.logger.Debugf("Request authorized for user %s, forwarding to next handler", userIdentifier)

 	t.next.ServeHTTP(rw, req)
 }
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ func TestMiddlewareDomainRestrictions(t *testing.T) {
 		// Create authenticated session
 		req := httptest.NewRequest("GET", "/api/test", nil)
 		session, _ := sessionManager.GetSession(req)
-		session.SetEmail("user@example.com")
+		session.SetUserIdentifier("user@example.com")
 		session.SetAuthenticated(true)
 		session.SetIDToken("dummy-token")
 		session.Save(req, httptest.NewRecorder())
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ func TestMiddlewareDomainRestrictions(t *testing.T) {
 		// Create session with forbidden domain
 		req := httptest.NewRequest("GET", "/api/test", nil)
 		session, _ := sessionManager.GetSession(req)
-		session.SetEmail("user@forbidden.com")
+		session.SetUserIdentifier("user@forbidden.com")
 		session.SetAuthenticated(true)

 		// Save and inject cookies
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ func TestMiddlewareOpaqueTokenHandling(t *testing.T) {
 	// Create session with opaque token
 	req := httptest.NewRequest("GET", "/api/test", nil)
 	session, _ := sessionManager.GetSession(req)
-	session.SetEmail("user@example.com")
+	session.SetUserIdentifier("user@example.com")
 	session.SetAccessToken("sk_live_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz")  // Opaque token (no dots)
 	session.SetAuthenticated(true)

@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ func TestMiddlewareProcessAuthorizedRequestEdgeCases(t *testing.T) {

 		req := httptest.NewRequest("GET", "/api/test", nil)
 		session, _ := sessionManager.GetSession(req)
-		session.SetEmail("") // No email
+		session.SetUserIdentifier("") // No email
 		session.SetIDToken("dummy-token")

 		rw := httptest.NewRecorder()
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ func TestMiddlewareProcessAuthorizedRequestEdgeCases(t *testing.T) {

 		req := httptest.NewRequest("GET", "/api/test", nil)
 		session, _ := sessionManager.GetSession(req)
-		session.SetEmail("user@example.com")
+		session.SetUserIdentifier("user@example.com")
 		session.SetIDToken("")     // No ID token
 		session.SetAccessToken("") // No access token

@@ -349,7 +349,7 @@ func TestMiddlewareProcessAuthorizedRequestEdgeCases(t *testing.T) {

 		req := httptest.NewRequest("GET", "/api/test", nil)
 		session, _ := sessionManager.GetSession(req)
-		session.SetEmail("user@example.com")
+		session.SetUserIdentifier("user@example.com")
 		session.SetIDToken("dummy-token")

 		rw := httptest.NewRecorder()
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@ func TestMiddlewareProcessAuthorizedRequestEdgeCases(t *testing.T) {
 		req := httptest.NewRequest("GET", "/api/test", nil)
 		session, _ := sessionManager.GetSession(req)
 		testEmail := "user@example.com"
-		session.SetEmail(testEmail)
+		session.SetUserIdentifier(testEmail)
 		session.SetIDToken("dummy-id-token")

 		rw := httptest.NewRecorder()
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ func testIssue53ReverseProxyHTTPS(t *testing.T) {

 	// Simulate successful Azure authentication
 	session.SetAuthenticated(true)
-	session.SetEmail("user@example.com")
+	session.SetUserIdentifier("user@example.com")
 	// Azure may use opaque access tokens
 	session.SetAccessToken("opaque-azure-access-token")
 	session.SetIDToken("eyJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzdWIiOiIxMjM0NTY3ODkwIiwibmFtZSI6IkpvaG4gRG9lIiwiYWRtaW4iOnRydWUsImlhdCI6MTUxNjIzOTAyMn0.NHVaYe26MbtOYhSKkoKYdFVomg4i8ZJd8_-RU8VNbftc4TSMb4bXP3l3YlNWACwyXPGffz5aXHc6lty1Y2t4SWRqGteragsVdZufDn5BlnJl9pdR_kdVFUsra2rWKEofkZeIC4yWytE58sMIihvo9H1ScmmVwBcQP6XETqYd0aSHp1gOa9RdUPDvoXQ5oqygTqVtxaDr6wUFKrKItgBMzWIdNZ6y7O9E0DhEPTbE9rfBo6KTFsHAZnMg4k68CDp2woYIaXbmYTWcvbzIuHO7_37GT79XdIwkm95QJ7hYC9RiwrV7mesbY4PAahERJawntho0my942XheVLmGwLMBkQ") // trufflehog:ignore
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ func testIssue53ReverseProxyHTTPS(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)

 	assert.True(t, session2.GetAuthenticated(), "User should remain authenticated")
-	assert.Equal(t, "user@example.com", session2.GetEmail())
+	assert.Equal(t, "user@example.com", session2.GetUserIdentifier())
 	assert.NotEmpty(t, session2.GetAccessToken(), "Access token should persist")
 	assert.NotEmpty(t, session2.GetIDToken(), "ID token should persist")
 	assert.NotEmpty(t, session2.GetRefreshToken(), "Refresh token should persist")
@@ -485,7 +485,7 @@ func TestSessionFixationAttack(t *testing.T) {

 	// Set up the attacker's session with malicious data
 	attackerSession.SetAuthenticated(true)
-	attackerSession.SetEmail("attacker@evil.com")
+	attackerSession.SetUserIdentifier("attacker@evil.com")
 	attackerSession.SetIDToken(ValidIDToken)
 	attackerSession.SetAccessToken(ValidAccessToken)

@@ -512,7 +512,7 @@ func TestSessionFixationAttack(t *testing.T) {
 		}

 		// Get the email from the session
-		email := session.GetEmail()
+		email := session.GetUserIdentifier()
 		w.Header().Set("X-User-Email", email)
 		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
 	})
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ type combinedSessionPayload struct {
 	A  string                 `json:"a,omitempty"`
 	R  string                 `json:"r,omitempty"`
 	I  string                 `json:"i,omitempty"`
-	E  string                 `json:"e,omitempty"`
+	Ui string                 `json:"ui,omitempty"`
 	Cs string                 `json:"cs,omitempty"`
 	N  string                 `json:"n,omitempty"`
 	Cv string                 `json:"cv,omitempty"`
@@ -113,11 +113,11 @@ type combinedSessionPayload struct {
 // knownSessionKeys are the standard keys that are handled explicitly in the combined payload.
 // All other mainSession.Values keys are stored in the X (extra) field.
 var knownSessionKeys = map[string]bool{
-	"access_token":   true,
-	"refresh_token":  true,
-	"id_token":       true,
-	"email":          true,
-	"authenticated":  true,
+	"access_token":    true,
+	"refresh_token":   true,
+	"id_token":        true,
+	"user_identifier": true,
+	"authenticated":   true,
 	"csrf":           true,
 	"nonce":          true,
 	"code_verifier":  true,
@@ -1134,7 +1134,7 @@ func (sm *SessionManager) loadFromCombinedCookies(r *http.Request, sessionData *
 	sessionData.idTokenSession, _ = sm.store.Get(r, sm.idTokenCookieName())

 	// Populate legacy session values from combined payload
-	sessionData.mainSession.Values["email"] = payload.E
+	sessionData.mainSession.Values["user_identifier"] = payload.Ui
 	sessionData.mainSession.Values["authenticated"] = payload.Au
 	sessionData.mainSession.Values["csrf"] = payload.Cs
 	sessionData.mainSession.Values["nonce"] = payload.N
@@ -1278,7 +1278,7 @@ func (sd *SessionData) saveCombined(r *http.Request, w http.ResponseWriter, opti
 		A:  sd.getAccessTokenUnsafe(),
 		R:  sd.getRefreshTokenUnsafe(),
 		I:  sd.getIDTokenUnsafe(),
-		E:  sd.getEmailUnsafe(),
+		Ui: sd.getUserIdentifierUnsafe(),
 		Au: sd.getAuthenticatedUnsafe(),
 		Cs: sd.getCSRFUnsafe(),
 		N:  sd.getNonceUnsafe(),
@@ -2469,30 +2469,30 @@ func (sd *SessionData) SetCodeVerifier(codeVerifier string) {
 	}
 }

-// GetEmail retrieves the authenticated user's email address.
-// The email is extracted from ID token claims and used for
-// authorization decisions and header injection.
+// GetUserIdentifier retrieves the authenticated user's identifier as extracted
+// from the configured userIdentifierClaim of the ID token (email, sub, oid,
+// upn, preferred_username, etc.). The value is used for authorization
+// decisions and header injection.
 // Returns:
-//   - The user's email address string, or an empty string if not set.
-func (sd *SessionData) GetEmail() string {
+//   - The user identifier string, or an empty string if not set.
+func (sd *SessionData) GetUserIdentifier() string {
 	sd.sessionMutex.RLock()
 	defer sd.sessionMutex.RUnlock()

-	email, _ := sd.mainSession.Values["email"].(string)
-	return email
+	userIdentifier, _ := sd.mainSession.Values["user_identifier"].(string)
+	return userIdentifier
 }

-// SetEmail stores the authenticated user's email address.
-// The email is typically extracted from the 'email' claim in the ID token.
+// SetUserIdentifier stores the authenticated user's identifier value.
 // Parameters:
-//   - email: The user's email address to store.
-func (sd *SessionData) SetEmail(email string) {
+//   - userIdentifier: The user identifier to store (email, sub, or other claim value).
+func (sd *SessionData) SetUserIdentifier(userIdentifier string) {
 	sd.sessionMutex.Lock()
 	defer sd.sessionMutex.Unlock()

-	currentVal, _ := sd.mainSession.Values["email"].(string)
-	if currentVal != email {
-		sd.mainSession.Values["email"] = email
+	currentVal, _ := sd.mainSession.Values["user_identifier"].(string)
+	if currentVal != userIdentifier {
+		sd.mainSession.Values["user_identifier"] = userIdentifier
 		sd.dirty = true
 	}
 }
@@ -2626,10 +2626,10 @@ func (sd *SessionData) getRefreshTokenUnsafe() string {
 	return result.Token
 }

-// getEmailUnsafe retrieves the email without acquiring locks.
-func (sd *SessionData) getEmailUnsafe() string {
-	email, _ := sd.mainSession.Values["email"].(string)
-	return email
+// getUserIdentifierUnsafe retrieves the user identifier without acquiring locks.
+func (sd *SessionData) getUserIdentifierUnsafe() string {
+	userIdentifier, _ := sd.mainSession.Values["user_identifier"].(string)
+	return userIdentifier
 }

 // getCSRFUnsafe retrieves the CSRF token without acquiring locks.
@@ -320,17 +320,16 @@ func (s *SessionBehaviourSuite) TestSessionData_DirtyTracking() {
 	s.False(session.IsDirty())
 }

-// TestSessionData_SetEmail tests email setter with dirty tracking
-func (s *SessionBehaviourSuite) TestSessionData_SetEmail() {
+// TestSessionData_SetUserIdentifier tests user identifier setter with dirty tracking
+func (s *SessionBehaviourSuite) TestSessionData_SetUserIdentifier() {
 	req := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, "/test", nil)

 	session, err := s.sessionManager.GetSession(req)
 	s.Require().NoError(err)
 	defer session.returnToPoolSafely()

-	// Set email
-	session.SetEmail("test@example.com")
-	s.Equal("test@example.com", session.GetEmail())
+	session.SetUserIdentifier("test@example.com")
+	s.Equal("test@example.com", session.GetUserIdentifier())
 	s.True(session.IsDirty())
 }

@@ -568,7 +567,7 @@ func (s *SessionBehaviourSuite) TestSessionData_Clear() {
 	// Set some data
 	err = session.SetAuthenticated(true)
 	s.Require().NoError(err)
-	session.SetEmail("test@example.com")
+	session.SetUserIdentifier("test@example.com")
 	session.SetCSRF("csrf-token")

 	// Clear session
@@ -588,7 +587,7 @@ func (s *SessionBehaviourSuite) TestSessionData_Save() {
 	defer session.returnToPoolSafely()

 	// Modify session
-	session.SetEmail("test@example.com")
+	session.SetUserIdentifier("test@example.com")
 	s.True(session.IsDirty())

 	// Save session
@@ -2688,7 +2688,7 @@ func TestSessionStatePreservationWithExpiredTokens(t *testing.T) {

 	// Set up initial session state (what user has when first logging in)
 	session1.SetAuthenticated(true)
-	session1.SetEmail(originalUserData["email"].(string))
+	session1.SetUserIdentifier(originalUserData["email"].(string))
 	session1.SetAccessToken("initial-valid-access-token-longer-than-20-chars")
 	session1.SetIDToken("initial-valid-id-token-longer-than-20-chars")
 	session1.SetRefreshToken("valid-refresh-token-should-last-30-days")
@@ -2732,7 +2732,7 @@ func TestSessionStatePreservationWithExpiredTokens(t *testing.T) {
 	// Simulate what happens when middleware detects expired tokens
 	// It should preserve session state while attempting token refresh
 	originalAuth := session2.GetAuthenticated()
-	originalEmail := session2.GetEmail()
+	originalEmail := session2.GetUserIdentifier()

 	// Reconstruct user data from individual stored keys
 	originalUserDataStored := make(map[string]interface{})
@@ -2813,7 +2813,7 @@ func TestSessionStatePreservationWithExpiredTokens(t *testing.T) {

 	// Verify all session data is still intact after token refresh
 	postRefreshAuth := session2.GetAuthenticated()
-	postRefreshEmail := session2.GetEmail()
+	postRefreshEmail := session2.GetUserIdentifier()
 	userDataPresent := true
 	for k := range originalUserData {
 		if session2.mainSession.Values["user_data_"+k] == nil {
@@ -2907,7 +2907,7 @@ func TestSessionExpiryVsTokenExpiry(t *testing.T) {

 			// Set up session with specific creation time
 			session.SetAuthenticated(true)
-			session.SetEmail("test@example.com")
+			session.SetUserIdentifier("test@example.com")
 			session.mainSession.Values["created_at"] = sessionCreatedAt.Unix()

 			// Create tokens with specific expiry
@@ -3018,7 +3018,7 @@ func TestSessionCleanupOnTokenExpiry(t *testing.T) {

 			// Set up session with data that should be preserved or removed
 			session.SetAuthenticated(true)
-			session.SetEmail("cleanup@example.com")
+			session.SetUserIdentifier("cleanup@example.com")

 			session.mainSession.Values["user_data"] = "Test User|user-123"
 			session.mainSession.Values["preferences"] = "theme:dark,lang:en"
@@ -3049,7 +3049,7 @@ func TestSessionCleanupOnTokenExpiry(t *testing.T) {
 			if scenario.shouldCleanup {
 				if sessionTooOld {
 					session.SetAuthenticated(false)
-					session.SetEmail("")
+					session.SetUserIdentifier("")
 					session.SetAccessToken("")
 					session.SetRefreshToken("")
 					for key := range session.mainSession.Values {
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ func (tf *TestFramework) CreateAuthenticatedRequest(method, path string) (*http.
 	}

 	session.SetAuthenticated(true)
-	session.SetEmail(tf.fixtures.UserEmail)
+	session.SetUserIdentifier(tf.fixtures.UserEmail)
 	session.SetAccessToken(tf.fixtures.AccessToken)
 	session.SetRefreshToken(tf.fixtures.RefreshToken)
 	session.SetIDToken(tf.GenerateJWT(tf.fixtures.Claims))
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"io"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/url"
+	"runtime"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 )
@@ -433,7 +434,7 @@ func (t *TraefikOidc) refreshToken(rw http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request, se
 			session.SetRefreshToken("")
 			session.SetAccessToken("")
 			session.SetIDToken("")
-			session.SetEmail("")
+			session.SetUserIdentifier("")
 			// Clear CSRF tokens as well to prevent any replay attacks
 			session.SetCSRF("")
 			session.SetNonce("")
@@ -475,12 +476,18 @@ func (t *TraefikOidc) refreshToken(rw http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request, se
 		t.logger.Errorf("refreshToken failed: Failed to extract claims from refreshed token: %v", err)
 		return false
 	}
-	email, _ := claims["email"].(string)
-	if email == "" {
-		t.logger.Errorf("refreshToken failed: Email claim missing or empty in refreshed token")
-		return false
+	userIdentifier, _ := claims[t.userIdentifierClaim].(string)
+	if userIdentifier == "" {
+		if t.userIdentifierClaim != "sub" {
+			userIdentifier, _ = claims["sub"].(string)
+		}
+		if userIdentifier == "" {
+			t.logger.Errorf("refreshToken failed: User identifier claim '%s' missing or empty in refreshed token", t.userIdentifierClaim)
+			return false
+		}
+		t.logger.Debugf("Configured claim '%s' not found in refreshed token, using 'sub' claim as fallback", t.userIdentifierClaim)
 	}
-	session.SetEmail(email)
+	session.SetUserIdentifier(userIdentifier)

 	// Get token expiry information for logging
 	var expiryTime time.Time
@@ -506,7 +513,7 @@ func (t *TraefikOidc) refreshToken(rw http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request, se
 		session.SetAccessToken("")
 		session.SetIDToken("")
 		session.SetRefreshToken("")
-		session.SetEmail("")
+		session.SetUserIdentifier("")
 		return false
 	}

@@ -1193,9 +1200,14 @@ func (t *TraefikOidc) startTokenCleanup() {
 	sessionManager := t.sessionManager
 	logger := t.logger

+	// Only use the fast cleanup interval when actually running under `go test`.
+	// runtime.Compiler == "yaegi" makes isTestMode() return true in production
+	// (Traefik interprets the plugin via yaegi), which would otherwise pin this
+	// ticker to 20 Hz on a real cluster despite tokenCache.Cleanup and
+	// jwkCache.Cleanup both being no-ops there.
 	cleanupInterval := 1 * time.Minute
-	if isTestMode() {
-		cleanupInterval = 50 * time.Millisecond // Fast interval for tests
+	if isTestMode() && runtime.Compiler != "yaegi" {
+		cleanupInterval = 50 * time.Millisecond
 	}

 	// Create cleanup function
@@ -1237,25 +1249,27 @@ func (t *TraefikOidc) startTokenCleanup() {
 }

 // extractGroupsAndRoles extracts group and role information from token claims.
-// It parses the 'groups' and 'roles' claims from the ID token and validates their format.
-// Parameters:
-//   - idToken: The ID token containing claims to extract.
+// It parses the configured group/role claims from the supplied ID token.
 //
-// Returns:
-//   - groups: Array of group names from the 'groups' claim.
-//   - roles: Array of role names from the 'roles' claim.
-//   - An error if claim extraction fails or if the 'groups' or 'roles' claims are present
-//     but not arrays of strings.
+// Most callers should prefer extractGroupsAndRolesFromClaims when claims have
+// already been parsed for the request (e.g. via SessionData.GetIDTokenClaims),
+// to avoid re-parsing the JWT.
 func (t *TraefikOidc) extractGroupsAndRoles(idToken string) ([]string, []string, error) {
 	claims, err := t.extractClaimsFunc(idToken)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to extract claims: %w", err)
 	}
+	return t.extractGroupsAndRolesFromClaims(claims)
+}

+// extractGroupsAndRolesFromClaims extracts group and role information from
+// already-parsed claims. Hot path: callers that have a cached claims map (such
+// as SessionData.GetIDTokenClaims) should use this to skip a redundant
+// base64+JSON decode of the JWT on every authenticated request.
+func (t *TraefikOidc) extractGroupsAndRolesFromClaims(claims map[string]interface{}) ([]string, []string, error) {
 	var groups []string
 	var roles []string

-	// Extract groups using configurable claim name (defaults to "groups")
 	if groupsClaim, exists := claims[t.groupClaimName]; exists {
 		groupsSlice, ok := groupsClaim.([]interface{})
 		if !ok {
@@ -1271,7 +1285,6 @@ func (t *TraefikOidc) extractGroupsAndRoles(idToken string) ([]string, []string,
 		}
 	}

-	// Extract roles using configurable claim name (defaults to "roles")
 	if rolesClaim, exists := claims[t.roleClaimName]; exists {
 		rolesSlice, ok := rolesClaim.([]interface{})
 		if !ok {
@@ -210,6 +210,8 @@ func initializeCachesWithRedis(manager *UniversalCacheManager, logger *Logger, r
 		RedisPrefix:   redisConfig.KeyPrefix,
 		PoolSize:      redisConfig.PoolSize,
 		EnableMetrics: true,
+		EnableTLS:     redisConfig.EnableTLS,
+		TLSSkipVerify: redisConfig.TLSSkipVerify,
 	}

 	// Use concrete type to avoid Yaegi reflection issues with interface assignment