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Key Takeaways
- Running PHP 7.4 or older in 2025 means no official security updates — leaving your systems exposed to vulnerabilities.
- Upgrading to PHP 8 often requires major code rewrites and significant time and resources.
- TuxCare’s Endless Lifecycle Support (ELS) keeps outdated PHP versions secure without changing your existing codebase.
Despite reaching end of life, many businesses still rely on older PHP versions like 7.4 — creating serious security risks. This becomes even more critical now that operating systems such as CentOS 7, which support these versions, are also EOL.
Upgrading to PHP 8.x isn’t always straightforward. It often requires rewriting legacy code — a process that takes time, planning, and resources.
Fortunately, TuxCare’s Endless Lifecycle Support (ELS) lets you keep PHP EOL apps secure without upgrading or rewriting. In this article, you’ll learn how to protect your legacy PHP systems while continuing to use your existing version for years to come.
What Exactly Is PHP EOL (End of Life)?
PHP EOL means the end of the official support lifecycle for a specific PHP version.
Generally, PHP versions get two years of active support followed by an additional two years of security updates. After this four-year period, the PHP branch enters its end of life (EOL) phase and stops receiving further official updates, including security patches and bug fixes.
As of 2025, PHP 8.0 and all previous versions are no longer supported.
Using an EOL version doesn’t stop your application from working — but it does leave it vulnerable to new threats. Even a minor exploit can compromise your server, data, or users.
Your PHP Version Has Reached End Of Life: What Now?
Once your PHP version hits EOL, ignoring it isn’t an option. The longer you wait, the more your applications are exposed to unpatched vulnerabilities — leading to security risks, compliance issues, and potential downtime.
Here are your two main options when your PHP is outdated or approaching the end of life.
Upgrade to Supported PHP Version
By upgrading your current version to one of the newer supported versions, you address the core problem of operating on an end-of-life language.
Your system will continue to receive official updates and security fixes. At the time of writing, PHP 8.4 is latest stable release.
However, moving from PHP EOL versions is not quite an easy process, it requires thorough testing and possibly major rewrites — especially if you’re jumping from PHP 5.x or 7.x to 8.x.
This is because of backward incompatible changes and deprecated features introduced in PHP 8.
TuxCare’s Endless Lifecycle Support for PHP
Upgrading isn’t always immediately possible — especially when your applications depend on outdated libraries or custom legacy code. But that doesn’t mean you should leave them exposed to security risks.
Even without upgrading, you can keep your PHP applications secure after official support ends.
TuxCare’s Endless Lifecycle Support (ELS) delivers ongoing security patches for outdated PHP versions, such as PHP 5.x to 7.x, across both Linux and Windows environments.
No need to rewrite your codebase — you can safely run your existing version for as long as needed while planning a well-tested upgrade.
ELS is ideal for businesses running legacy systems, operating under limited dev resources, or requiring high uptime.
The Challenge of Upgrading PHP EOL
The journey from PHP 5 or 7 to PHP 8 isn’t a simple version bump — it’s a major overhaul. Many organizations still use legacy PHP, but experts estimate that transitioning to the latest PHP version necessitates rewriting approximately 50-60% of existing PHP code.
This task can be daunting for businesses heavily reliant on PHP for critical functions like sales websites, checkout systems, CRM systems, etc.
Upgrading PHP entails more than just switching versions — it involves identifying compatibility issues, rewriting deprecated code, and extensive testing to ensure nothing breaks in production. This demands significant time, budget, and development effort.
With PHP 7.4 now fully EOL, businesses must act quickly to upgrade or secure their legacy systems before attackers exploit unpatched weaknesses.
The Promise of Endless Lifecycle Support
The availability of Endless Lifecycle Support (ELS) for older PHP versions and the operating systems supporting them offers a comprehensive solution to these challenges. Its primary advantage lies in providing a secure environment for outdated PHP versions without necessitating extensive code rewrites.
TuxCare’s ELS for end-of-life Linux provides ongoing security updates for the operating system itself.
Crucially, this also extends security coverage to the PHP versions that were part of the standard repositories.
TuxCare’s ELS for PHP covers end-of-life PHP versions (such as PHP 7.4 and older) for both Linux and Windows systems. This allows organizations running older PHP on actively supported operating systems to specifically address their PHP security risks without necessarily requiring OS-level support.
By using ELS services, organizations can continue to operate workloads on end-of-life Linux systems and PHP EOL versions securely, receiving necessary security patches for both.
When to Choose Extended Support Over Upgrading
Extended support is a smart choice when upgrading to PHP 8 isn’t feasible due to time, budget, or complex legacy code.
The time and resources that would have been expended on rewriting and debugging code can instead be allocated to other critical areas of the business.
ELS not only saves man-hours but also provides peace of mind by securing legacy applications against emerging threats.
Choose ELS when:
- Downtime isn’t an option – You need to keep mission-critical systems running 24/7.
- Dependencies block upgrades – Your app relies on packages that are incompatible with newer PHP versions.
- You need time to refactor – A phased upgrade is safer and more realistic for your team.
In these scenarios, ELS acts as a secure buffer — giving your organization breathing room to plan a smooth transition without compromising on security.
Stay Secure & Protected With TuxCare’s Endless Lifecycle Support
Still running PHP 7.4 or an older version? Don’t let the end-of-life (EOL) status put your business at risk. With TuxCare’s Endless Lifecycle Support (ELS), you can maintain the security of your legacy PHP applications without incurring the substantial costs and disruptions of a full code rewrite.
Stay compliant, secure, and fully operational while you plan your upgrade on your own terms.
Have questions about securing your EOL PHP environment? Speak to TuxCare’s PHP security experts to learn how ELS can provide a secure and cost-effective solution.
