Handle edge cases in timeout

**Description**
Currently middleware lacks proper backup support.

**Proposed solution**
Add configurable backup with sensible defaults.

**Priority**: Low/Medium

No file, test, or entry point is named. Start by locating the middleware timeout implementation and its configuration path, then trace the current timeout behavior and existing defaults. Done means the backup behavior is configurable, has sensible defaults, and covers the reported timeout edge cases.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.