cPanel & WHM Version 136: What’s New

cPanel & WHM version 136 became available on May 27, 2026, and is the latest release of the control panel. The update consolidates SSL certificate management into a single interface, adds server-wide PHP error logging controls, expands MariaDB support to version 11.8, and ends support for Ubuntu 22.04 LTS.

What’s New in cPanel & WHM Version 136

Version 136 focuses on reducing the number of places you need to look to manage certificates, logs, and PHP settings. The changes below affect both cPanel users and WHM administrators.

Unified SSL/TLS certificate management

Three separate SSL-related interfaces inside cPanel have been merged into a single SSL/TLS management page. You can now view, install, and renew certificates for all your domains in one place rather than navigating across multiple screens. The unified interface covers free AutoSSL certificates, short-lived certificates issued through Automated Certificate Management Environment (ACME), and paid certificates.

Version 136 also adds native support for short-lived SSL certificates. These certificates have a lifespan measured in days rather than months and are automatically issued and renewed via ACME, so there is no manual renewal step once they are set up. For background on managing SSL certificates on your account, see cPanel tutorials in the InMotion Hosting Support Center.

Server-wide PHP error logging and log retention

WHM administrators can now configure PHP error logging for all accounts from a single interface rather than adjusting settings per account or editing configuration files directly. This makes it easier to set a consistent logging policy across a server and to troubleshoot application errors without switching contexts.

Alongside this, version 136 adds enhanced controls for web server log retention. Administrators can view how much storage logs consume and manage their lifecycle from the same area, helping keep disk usage predictable on busy servers.

PHP version visibility improvements

The PHP version selector in WHM now clearly distinguishes between End-of-Life and Hardened PHP versions.

End-of-Life versions no longer receive upstream security patches. Hardened PHP versions are community-maintained builds that continue to receive security fixes after a version reaches End-of-Life. The clearer labeling helps administrators make informed decisions about which PHP versions to keep available for accounts on their server. For guidance on checking or changing the PHP version on your own account, see How to View Your PHP Version in cPanel.

MariaDB 11.8 support

MariaDB 11.8 is now available as an upgrade option in WHM’s Upgrade Database Version interface. MariaDB 11.8 is a Long Term Support (LTS) release, which means it will receive patches and security updates for several years. Server administrators on VPS and Dedicated plans can select this version when upgrading their database server through WHM.

ConfigServer Security and Firewall delivered through cPanel’s update pipeline

ConfigServer Security & Firewall (CSF) is now delivered and updated through cPanel’s own signed update pipeline instead of a third-party channel. Existing CSF installations are migrated automatically during the upgrade to version 136. The Security Advisor in WHM will also recommend installing cPanel-managed CSF on servers where it is not yet present. This change keeps CSF updates consistent with cPanel’s release schedule and signing standards, reducing the risk of a CSF update arriving outside the verified pipeline.

Improved session logout behavior

Logging out of a WebPros account (used to manage cPanel licenses and related services) now fully terminates the global single sign-on (SSO) session rather than terminating only the local cPanel or WHM session. Previously, signing out of cPanel or WHM while using SSO left the WebPros session active, potentially allowing continued access through other connected services.

What This Means for Your Hosting

Version 136 is primarily relevant to VPS and Dedicated customers who manage their own update tier. If you are on a VPS or Dedicated server, you can move your server to the cPanel release tier that includes version 136 and apply it yourself through the standard update process in WHM.

InMotion Hosting Shared, Reseller, and WordPress hosting servers follow the cPanel Long Term Support (LTS) release tier, which InMotion manages and schedules for you. Those servers are currently on version 126 and are scheduled to upgrade to version 134 within the next month. Because of this, the version 136 features described in this article are not yet available on Shared, Reseller, or WordPress hosting and are not expected to be available on those plans in the near term.

On VPS and Dedicated servers, the unified SSL interface and PHP error logging improvements are available immediately after upgrading to version 136. No configuration changes are required to take advantage of these features, although server administrators may want to review their PHP error logging settings and log retention policies once the update is applied.

Important: If your server runs Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, version 136 is the last cPanel release that supports it. You should plan a migration to Ubuntu 24.04 LTS before upgrading to any version beyond 136. Ubuntu 24.04 LTS is fully supported in version 136 alongside AlmaLinux 8, 9, and 10 and CloudLinux 8, 9, and 10.

How to Get Started

On Shared, Reseller, and WordPress hosting, InMotion Hosting handles cPanel upgrades on the LTS release tier, so you do not need to take any action. Those servers are on version 126 and will move to version 134 within the next month, so version 136 is not part of that schedule.

On VPS and Dedicated servers, a WHM administrator can check the current version and update tier by navigating to WHM > Home > Server Configuration > Update Preferences. Choosing the release tier that includes version 136 will queue the upgrade on the next update cycle. You can also trigger an immediate update from WHM > cPanel > Upgrade to Latest Version.

For the full list of changes, see the official cPanel & WHM version 136 announcement from the cPanel team.