Amazon RDS for MySQL 5.6 · Version Status
Amazon RDS for MySQL 5.6 End of Life Date
Amazon RDS for MySQL 5.6 end-of-life date, support status, and CVE risk. Data from endoflife.date and official vendor documentation.
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Amazon RDS for MySQL 5.6 is past end of life. This version no longer receives security patches. 1627 days past EOL — migrate to a supported version immediately.
EOL Date
Mar 1, 2022
1627 days past EOL
Latest Release
5.6
Standard release
Release Date
Jul 1, 2013
Amazon RDS for MySQL 5.6 series
Lifecycle detail
Amazon RDS for MySQL 5.6 was released on July 1, 2013 and support ended on March 1, 2022 — a supported lifespan of 8 years and 8 months, longer than the 3 years and 9 months median for Amazon RDS for MySQL releases. The last patch it will ever receive is 5.6, published July 1, 2013 — 8 years and 8 months before support ended. It has been without security patches for 4 years and 6 months. 15 newer Amazon RDS for MySQL releases have shipped since.
Attack Surface
10/30 Medium tier
CISA KEV Exposure
0/20 Not in KEV
Extended Support
0/10 Available
EOL Risk Score™ — proprietary methodology by endoflife.ai. Factors: EOL recency, attack surface breadth, CISA KEV catalog presence, extended support availability. Updated at every build.
Methodology → ·
View score card →
Extended Support
Extended Amazon RDS for MySQL 5.6 support is available
Commercial vendors offer security patches beyond EOL. Compare your options.
Compare Options →
All Amazon RDS for MySQL Versions
| Version | Latest | EOL Date | Status |
|---|
| → 5.6 |
5.6 |
Mar 1, 2022 |
EOL |
| 5.7 |
5.7.44 |
Feb 29, 2024 |
EOL |
| 8.0 |
8.0.46 |
Jul 31, 2026 |
EOL |
| 8.0.40 |
8.0.40 |
Jul 31, 2026 |
EOL |
| 8.4.3 |
8.4.3 |
Jul 31, 2029 |
Active |
| 8.4 |
8.4.10 |
Jul 31, 2029 |
Active |
| 8.0.41 |
8.0.41 |
Jul 31, 2026 |
EOL |
| 8.4.4 |
8.4.4 |
Jul 31, 2029 |
Active |
What does Amazon RDS for MySQL 5.6 end of life mean?
When Amazon RDS for MySQL 5.6 reaches end of life, the maintainers stop issuing security patches for this version. CVEs discovered after the EOL date are publicly disclosed on the National Vulnerability Database with no patch available. Exploit code frequently appears on GitHub within days of disclosure.
The CVE blind spot: Most vulnerability scanners check for known CVEs but do not flag the ongoing accumulation of unpatched vulnerabilities in EOL software versions. Running Amazon RDS for MySQL 5.6 past its EOL date creates a permanently growing attack surface that standard security tooling will not surface.
Migrate to Amazon RDS for MySQL 8.4.9 or implement compensating controls — network segmentation, enhanced monitoring, restricted access — while migration is underway.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Amazon RDS for MySQL 5.6 reach end of life?
Amazon RDS for MySQL 5.6 reached end of life on March 1, 2022. This version is no longer receiving security patches.
Is Amazon RDS for MySQL 5.6 still supported?
No. Amazon RDS for MySQL 5.6 reached end of life on March 1, 2022 and is no longer receiving security patches.
What should I upgrade to from Amazon RDS for MySQL 5.6?
The recommended upgrade from Amazon RDS for MySQL 5.6 is
Amazon RDS for MySQL 8.4.9 — the latest actively supported version. Check the
Amazon RDS for MySQL full timeline for all supported versions.
What are the security risks of running Amazon RDS for MySQL 5.6 past EOL?
When Amazon RDS for MySQL 5.6 reaches end of life, the maintainers stop issuing security patches. Any CVEs disclosed after the EOL date accumulate with no remediation path. Most vulnerability scanners do not flag this — it is the CVE blind spot. Organizations running EOL Amazon RDS for MySQL should migrate immediately or implement compensating controls.