VMware vCenter 5.1 · Version Status
VMware vCenter 5.1 End of Life Date
VMware vCenter 5.1 end-of-life date, support status, and CVE risk. Data reconciled from official vendor documentation and endoflife.date at every build; the source of each date is on the product page.
⚠
VMware vCenter 5.1 is past end of life. This version no longer receives security patches. 3703 days past EOL — migrate to a supported version immediately.
EOL Date
Aug 24, 2016
3703 days past EOL
Latest Release
5.1 U3d
Standard release
Release Date
Aug 13, 2012
VMware vCenter 5.1 series
Lifecycle detail
VMware vCenter 5.1 was released on August 13, 2012 and support ended on August 24, 2016 — a supported lifespan of 4 years, shorter than the 5 years median for VMware vCenter releases. The last patch it will ever receive is 5.1 U3d, published May 19, 2016 — 3 months before support ended. It has been without security patches for 10 years and 2 months. 6 newer VMware vCenter releases have shipped since.
Attack Surface
10/30 Medium tier
CISA KEV Exposure
20/20 Named in CISA 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 VMware vCenter 5.1 support is available
Commercial vendors offer security patches beyond EOL. Compare your options.
Compare Options →
All VMware vCenter Versions
| Version | Latest | EOL Date | Status |
|---|
| 4 |
4.1 U3a |
May 21, 2014 |
EOL |
| 5.0 |
5.0 U3g |
Aug 24, 2016 |
EOL |
| → 5.1 |
5.1 U3d |
Aug 24, 2016 |
EOL |
| 5.5 |
5.5 U3k |
Sep 19, 2018 |
EOL |
| 6.0 |
6.0 U3j |
Mar 12, 2020 |
EOL |
| 6.5 |
6.5 U3w |
Oct 15, 2022 |
EOL |
| 6.7 |
6.7 U3w |
Oct 15, 2022 |
EOL |
| 7.0 |
7.0 U3w |
Oct 2, 2025 |
EOL |
What does VMware vCenter 5.1 end of life mean?
When VMware vCenter 5.1 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: A CVE-based scan does not show the ongoing accumulation of unpatched vulnerabilities in EOL software versions. Some scanners flag unsupported versions of common products, but coverage varies, and none of them give you the date in advance. Running VMware vCenter 5.1 past its EOL date creates a growing attack surface that a clean scan result does not rule out.
Migrate to VMware vCenter 9.1 or implement compensating controls — network segmentation, enhanced monitoring, restricted access — while migration is underway.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does VMware vCenter 5.1 reach end of life?
VMware vCenter 5.1 reached end of life on August 24, 2016. This version is no longer receiving security patches.
Is VMware vCenter 5.1 still supported?
No. VMware vCenter 5.1 reached end of life on August 24, 2016 and is no longer receiving security patches.
What should I upgrade to from VMware vCenter 5.1?
The recommended upgrade from VMware vCenter 5.1 is
VMware vCenter 9.1 — the latest actively supported version. Check the
VMware vCenter full timeline for all supported versions.
What are the security risks of running VMware vCenter 5.1 past EOL?
When VMware vCenter 5.1 reaches end of life, the maintainers stop issuing security patches. Any CVEs disclosed after the EOL date accumulate with no vendor fix. A CVE-based scan does not show this — it is the CVE blind spot; some scanners flag unsupported versions of common products, but coverage varies and none give the date in advance. Organizations running EOL VMware vCenter should migrate immediately or implement compensating controls.