Understanding End-of-Life (EOL) Products
If you’re a developer or manager, you’ve likely faced the challenge of maintaining legacy systems. You know the delicate balance between keeping your software running, finding the resources for costly upgrades, and managing the expense of growing your team to support emerging issues. When a product like Apache Tomcat, TomEE, or ActiveMQ reaches its End-of-Life (EOL), it stops receiving critical updates and patches from the Open Source Community. This leaves your systems vulnerable to security breaches and compliance issues—a nightmare for developers maintaining these systems and managers responsible for avoiding business risks.
Key Risks of Running EOL Software
Unpatched Security Vulnerabilities
Cybercriminals exploit known vulnerabilities in outdated software. Once a product reaches EOL, these flaws remain unpatched, increasing the risk of attacks. Tomitribe provides timely patches and expert guidance to secure your systems.
Compliance Violations
Many industries require compliance with standards like GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS. Running EOL software can lead to fines, certification loss, and reputational damage. Tomitribe helps ensure compliance through security updates and expert support.
Operational Disruptions
EOL software lacks updates, leading to degraded performance, compatibility issues, and unexpected failures. Tomitribe’s support helps maintain stability and prevent costly disruptions.
Liability Risks
If a breach occurs due to an unsupported component, your company could face lawsuits and fines. Tomitribe mitigates these risks by proactively addressing vulnerabilities.
Real-World Threats: Apache Tomcat, TomEE & ActiveMQ
Apache Tomcat & TomEE Vulnerabilities
EOL versions of Tomcat and TomEE have suffered from vulnerabilities like:
- CVE-2024-50379 & CVE-2024-56337: Remote code execution allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads, disrupt operations, and steal data.
- Authentication Bypass Risks: Weak authentication mechanisms enable unauthorized access, leading to significant security breaches.
More information on these CVEs, please take a look at Tomitribe’s recent blog post here
Apache ActiveMQ Vulnerabilities
ActiveMQ has been targeted via:
- CVE-2023-46604: Exploited insecure input handling to execute arbitrary commands, causing data breaches and service disruptions.
- Denial-of-Service (DoS) Attacks: Attackers exploited vulnerabilities to crash messaging services and disrupt enterprise operations.
Read more information on ActiveMQ CVE-2023-46604
How Tomitribe Protects Your EOL Software
Enterprise-Grade Support for EOL Software
Tomitribe offers enterprise-grade support for Apache Tomcat, TomEE, and ActiveMQ. Our team includes project committers who provide:
Unpatched Security Vulnerabilities
As a developer, imagine the frustration of battling a vulnerability that’s already fixed in a supported version. Cybercriminals frequently exploit known vulnerabilities in outdated software. Once a product reaches EOL, these vulnerabilities remain unpatched and unnotified in the official CVE data, leaving your systems wide open to attacks. Tomitribe’s annual support subscription provides timely patches and expert guidance to ensure your systems remain secure.
Compliance Violations
For managers, the stakes are high. Many industries require compliance with standards such as GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, all of which mandate the use of supported and secure software. Running EOL products can result in non-compliance, leading to fines, loss of certifications, and reputational damage. Tomitribe helps you maintain compliance by ensuring your software meets industry security standards through regular updates and expert support.
Operational Risks
Developers and managers alike feel the pain when EOL software disrupts operations. Without updates, performance degradations and unexpected failures can impact customer experience and business continuity. EOL software often lacks compatibility with newer systems, creating integration issues that cost valuable time and resources. With Tomitribe’s support, you can stabilize operations, resolve issues quickly, and avoid costly disruptions.
Increased Liability
If your organization delivers a product or service that relies on an EOL component, and a breach occurs, you may face lawsuits or fines for negligence. Developers are left firefighting incidents, while managers deal with the fallout of reputational harm and financial penalties. Tomitribe mitigates liability risks by providing proactive fixes and ensuring your software stays secure.
Check Your Version’s Lifecycle
Ensure your software is supported by reviewing the Tomitribe Lifecycle Policy.
Conclusion
Running unsupported EOL software is a ticking time bomb for your organization—one that invites hackers, risks compliance, and jeopardizes your reputation. Developers end up overwhelmed with patchwork fixes, while managers deal with the broader implications of downtime and liability. Don’t wait for a crisis to make the move. Tomitribe can secure your systems, and ensure your organization stays protected and compliant.
Contact Tomitribe Today
Protect your systems and avoid costly disruptions by reaching out to Tomitribe’s expert support team.
