Chef InSpec 5 End of Life
Support dates and upgrade guidance — rebuilt from live data.
End of Life
Chef InSpec 5 reached end of life on 16 Oct 2025. It no longer receives security fixes.
297 days without security patches
Recommended action: upgrade to Chef InSpec 7. Check your versioninspec version
Support timeline
Official dates from the Chef InSpec release process.
| Milestone | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Initial release | 17 Mar 2022 | — |
| End of life | 16 Oct 2025 | 0.8 years ago |
| Active support ended | 14 Nov 2023 | security fixes only after this |
| Latest release | 5.24.24 · 24 Jun 2026 | final |
Where to go from 5
Recommended target: Chef InSpec 7.
The newest actively supported branch is Chef InSpec 7 (latest release 7.1.7).
Frequently asked questions
Is Chef InSpec 5 still safe to use?
Chef InSpec 5 reached end of life on 16 Oct 2025, 297 days ago, and is no longer covered by standard support. Running it means no guaranteed security fixes.
Can I still download Chef InSpec 5?
Yes — the final release (5.24.24) generally remains available from vendor archives and OS package mirrors, but installing it means running software with known, unpatched vulnerabilities.
What should I upgrade Chef InSpec 5 to?
Upgrade to Chef InSpec 7, the newest actively supported branch.