Information
https-server sessions are used by both the REST API and Web management interface (WebUI). By default, an https-server session will remain open for 20 minutes while idle. Customers should be setting the idle session timeout to the lowest value that can be tolerated.
The https-server session timeout impacts both the REST API and WebUI. If it's only the WebUI being used, then an idle timeout of 5 minutes is recommended. If the REST API is being used, then the timeout should be based on how the management system is using the REST API. Ultimately, setting the session timeout to the smallest value is recommended in order to address this threat.
Solution
The session-timeout option can be used to set the idle session timeout:
switch(config)# https-server session-timeout <minutes>
Impact:
It's important that administrators know the idle duration of their management sessions. Sessions that are kept open too long may be taken over if the administrator walks away from their computer and fails to lock it. This can then lead to someone else gaining access to the device.