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Key Takeaways
- EOL software no longer receives security updates, leaving systems vulnerable to malicious threats.
- Running EOL Linux distributions increases security risks, compliance issues, and operational disruptions, as attackers actively exploit unpatched vulnerabilities.
- Organizations can mitigate risks with extended support solutions like TuxCare’s ELS, which provides ongoing security patches for EOL Linux distributions.
Running software past its end of life (EOL) is a security risk that many businesses overlook until it’s too late. Unsupported software is a prime target for cyberattacks, compliance failures, and costly downtime.
In this blog post, we’ll be exploring the dangers of using EOL software, including specific risks for Linux operating systems, the importance of security patches, and how they can help avoid possible security breaches.
What Is End of Life Software?
End of Life (EOL) software refers to operating systems or applications that are no longer maintained by the vendor. This means they stop receiving security updates, bug fixes, and official support. While EOL software may still function, it creates major security risks since any vulnerabilities discovered after the end-of-life date will not be resolved.
For Linux distributions, this means:
- No more security updates
- No bug fixes
- No official support from the vendor
Major Linux distributions follow a lifecycle where support is phased out after a set period. For example, Ubuntu LTS releases get 5 years of support, then enter End of Life (EOL). Organizations running EOL Linux face security threats, compliance violations, and compatibility issues, making it essential to protect the system or migrate to a supported version.
What is EoS (EoSL) in Software?
End of Support (EoS) and End of Service Life (EoSL) mean that a vendor has stopped providing security updates, bug fixes, and official support.
EoS: The software no longer receives free updates, but paid extended support may still be available.
EoSL: The software is fully abandoned, with no vendor or extended support options.
5+ Risks of Using EOL Software Without Support
Since EOL software no longer receives security updates from the original vendor, hackers can – and still do – easily target these systems and find vulnerabilities to exploit. Here are the top five risks you need to be aware of.
1. Vendors Don’t Patch EOL Software
One of the biggest risks of using EOL software is the lack of security updates. Without these updates, a system is exposed to potential security breaches, leaving sensitive data and information at great risk.
Malicious actors are constantly looking for vulnerabilities in software, and once they find one, they can exploit it to gain access to your system, extracting prized information/data and using it as ransom.
2. Compatibility Issues
Another risk of using EOL software is that it may not be compatible with other software or hardware features that you use. This, in turn, can result in compatibility issues, causing system crashes, disruptions, and other troubles.
For instance, if you are using an EOL operating system, it may not be compatible with the latest version of a software program you need to use, and this would affect an organization and its employee’s functionality, as well as productivity.
Using EOL software can also limit the organization’s ability to take advantage of new technology and features. Moreover, since new technology and software features are developed regularly, they are also designed to work with the latest software instead of EOL operating systems. If an organization is using end-of-life software, it wouldn’t be able to make the most of new features, setting the company back in terms of productivity and innovation.
Using EOL software can be a significant risk to an organization’s system and its security, so it’s essential to keep software up to date with the latest security patches and updates to avoid potential security breaches.
3. Increased Cybersecurity Threats
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) warns that using end-of-life software increases the chances of data breaches and ransomware attacks, as software vendors will no longer provide security patches and updates to fix newly discovered vulnerabilities.
Since hackers often target EOL software, as they know that many users may continue to use it despite the risks, CISA is encouraging organizations to migrate from whatever end-of-life systems they may still be using.
4. Compliance Challenges
In addition to security risks, CISA also warns that using EOL software can create compliance issues for organizations. There are industry standards and regulations in place for companies that require them to maintain secure and up-to-date software and protect sensitive or prized information from being exposed.
Using software that is beyond its end-of-life date may not meet these requirements, leading to potential violations and legal issues. To mitigate these risks, CISA is advising organizations to develop, implement, and utilize a much more robust software than the EOL ones that they are migrating from.
By doing so, organizations can ensure that they are using the latest, most secure software and can avoid the compliance risks and challenges that come with using EOL software.
5. Increased Costs
Using end-of-life (EOL) software can increase costs for organizations due to a lack of support from software vendors or when vendors no longer provide security patches, bug fixes, or updates. This leaves organizations vulnerable to security breaches – which can be costly to clean up after.
Moreover, since technical support for software that has reached its end-of-life date is often no longer available either, it can be incredibly challenging to resolve issues. So, organizations may need to allocate extra resources to maintain as well as secure end-of-life software. This, in turn, increases costs associated with managing the software (hiring additional IT staff or purchasing a supported software version.
Moreover, EOL software can also have compatibility issues with newer hardware or software, which can increase downtime and lead to revenue loss.
How to Identify EOL Software
Many businesses run outdated software, not knowing it has reached the end of life or the risks associated with EOL software. Usually, the vendor sets the end dates, so it’s essential to check your software’s status.
To determine if your Linux distribution is EOL:
Check the vendor’s website: Most vendors publish EOL dates in their documentation.
Use third-party tools: Websites like endoflife.date list EOL dates for major Linux distributions.
Watch for system notifications: Some distributions display warnings when nearing EOL.
Have EOL Software? Our Tips For Staying Secure
Overall, the costs associated with using EOL software can quickly add up — from security risks to operational disruptions. So, organizations should opt for software that is up to date and supported, which will eventually minimize security risks and avoid other unnecessary costs.
However, for a variety of reasons, companies may need to use a Linux distribution beyond its end-of-life date. Fortunately, there are ways to use these systems safely.
Use Extended Support Solutions
After the software vendor stops providing updates, some third-party vendors offer extended support, which mostly include security fixes and technical support. This enables you to continue using your existing software versions without worrying about security vulnerabilities.
TuxCare provides Endless Lifecycle Support (ELS) for end-of-life Linux distributions, delivering critical security patches after vendor support ends. ELS allows organizations using end-of-life Linux systems, like CentOS 7 to keep their systems protected without immediate migration.
TuxCare offers extended support for the following Linux distributions:
- CentOS (6, 7, 8, Stream 8)
- Oracle Linux (6, 7)
- Ubuntu (16.04, 18.04, 20.04)
It includes security patches for critical packages like the Linux kernel, Apache, PHP, Python, MySQL, glibc, OpenSSL, OpenSSH, and more. Check the CVE tracker page for a complete list of covered packages and addressed vulnerabilities.
Isolate EOL Systems from the Network
Keeping EOL systems in highly restricted network segments is an option. You can limit exposure by using firewalls, VLAN segmentation, or air-gapped environments. However, this adds complexity and workload for network administrators and impacts the systems’ usefulness.
Enforce Strong Access Controls
You can harden EOL Linux systems by:
- Enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA)
- Limiting root user access
- Deploying intrusion detection systems (IDS)
However, these security measures only provide temporary risk reduction — they do not replace security updates or long-term support.
Migrating to New Software Systems
Upgrading to a supported version ensures you receive security updates and support from the original vendor. However, if there is no direct upgrade path, you must either find a replacement or use extended support for continued security.
For example, there is no CentOS 9 to upgrade from CentOS 8, forcing users to switch to CentOS Stream or alternatives like AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux. Whether upgrading or migrating, the process requires careful planning to minimize downtime and compatibility risks.
Learn how to migrate your CentOS 7 or 8 systems to AlmaLinux with our step-by-step migration guide.
TuxCare – The Ideal Solution To Securing Your EOL Linux
While the risks associated with using Linux distributions past their end-of-life date are quite daunting, there is a solution ready. Has your organization still not migrated from CentOS 8? TuxCare’s Endless Lifecycle Support provides ongoing security patches and updates for EOL software, just like this version of CentOS.
Endless Lifecycle Support enables organizations to continue using this version of the software with peace of mind, all while minimizing the risk of security breaches and reducing the typical downtime that comes with using EOL software.
End-of-life Linux doesn’t need to put your organization at risk. Speak to a TuxCare Linux security expert today to learn about how your organizations can stay up to date and secure while also saving costs.
