diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/3936-distutils.version.yml b/changelogs/fragments/3936-distutils.version.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..bf6ea7f715
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/3936-distutils.version.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+bugfixes:
+  - "Various modules and plugins - use vendored version of ``distutils.version`` included in ansible-core 2.12 if available. This avoids breakage when ``distutils`` is removed from the standard library of Python 3.12. Note that ansible-core 2.11, ansible-base 2.10 and Ansible 2.9 are right now not compatible with Python 3.12, hence this fix does not target these ansible-core/-base/2.9 versions (https://github.com/ansible-collections/community.general/pull/3936)."
diff --git a/plugins/filter/version_sort.py b/plugins/filter/version_sort.py
index c59e87c9c6..ac62ef8c8f 100644
--- a/plugins/filter/version_sort.py
+++ b/plugins/filter/version_sort.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
 __metaclass__ = type
 
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
 
 
 def version_sort(value, reverse=False):
diff --git a/plugins/inventory/cobbler.py b/plugins/inventory/cobbler.py
index d9bc549ed6..7292171f1a 100644
--- a/plugins/inventory/cobbler.py
+++ b/plugins/inventory/cobbler.py
@@ -68,7 +68,6 @@ user: ansible-tester
 password: secure
 '''
 
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
 import socket
 
 from ansible.errors import AnsibleError
diff --git a/plugins/inventory/proxmox.py b/plugins/inventory/proxmox.py
index f52f0f1bb3..9d324975b3 100644
--- a/plugins/inventory/proxmox.py
+++ b/plugins/inventory/proxmox.py
@@ -119,12 +119,13 @@ compose:
 import re
 
 from ansible.module_utils.common._collections_compat import MutableMapping
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
 
 from ansible.errors import AnsibleError
 from ansible.plugins.inventory import BaseInventoryPlugin, Constructable, Cacheable
 from ansible.module_utils.six.moves.urllib.parse import urlencode
 
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
+
 # 3rd party imports
 try:
     import requests
diff --git a/plugins/inventory/xen_orchestra.py b/plugins/inventory/xen_orchestra.py
index 1e19051fe8..8a7d9e7354 100644
--- a/plugins/inventory/xen_orchestra.py
+++ b/plugins/inventory/xen_orchestra.py
@@ -79,11 +79,11 @@ simple_config_file:
 import json
 import ssl
 
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
-
 from ansible.errors import AnsibleError
 from ansible.plugins.inventory import BaseInventoryPlugin, Constructable, Cacheable
 
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
+
 # 3rd party imports
 try:
     HAS_WEBSOCKET = True
diff --git a/plugins/module_utils/gitlab.py b/plugins/module_utils/gitlab.py
index 1a0bf12a1e..21af10b5cd 100644
--- a/plugins/module_utils/gitlab.py
+++ b/plugins/module_utils/gitlab.py
@@ -7,11 +7,11 @@
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
 __metaclass__ = type
 
-from distutils.version import StrictVersion
-
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import missing_required_lib
 from ansible.module_utils.common.text.converters import to_native
 
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
+
 try:
     from urllib import quote_plus  # Python 2.X
     from urlparse import urljoin
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ def gitlab_authentication(module):
         # python-gitlab library remove support for username/password authentication since 1.13.0
         # Changelog : https://github.com/python-gitlab/python-gitlab/releases/tag/v1.13.0
         # This condition allow to still support older version of the python-gitlab library
-        if StrictVersion(gitlab.__version__) < StrictVersion("1.13.0"):
+        if LooseVersion(gitlab.__version__) < LooseVersion("1.13.0"):
             gitlab_instance = gitlab.Gitlab(url=gitlab_url, ssl_verify=validate_certs, email=gitlab_user, password=gitlab_password,
                                             private_token=gitlab_token, api_version=4)
         else:
diff --git a/plugins/module_utils/influxdb.py b/plugins/module_utils/influxdb.py
index 92c7802335..c171131a95 100644
--- a/plugins/module_utils/influxdb.py
+++ b/plugins/module_utils/influxdb.py
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@ __metaclass__ = type
 import traceback
 
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import missing_required_lib
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
 
 REQUESTS_IMP_ERR = None
 try:
diff --git a/plugins/module_utils/version.py b/plugins/module_utils/version.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d1769e175e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/module_utils/version.py
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+
+# Copyright: (c) 2021, Felix Fontein <felix@fontein.de>
+# GNU General Public License v3.0+ (see COPYING or https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt)
+
+"""Provide version object to compare version numbers."""
+
+from __future__ import absolute_import, division, print_function
+__metaclass__ = type
+
+from ansible.module_utils.six import raise_from
+
+try:
+    from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import LooseVersion
+except ImportError:
+    try:
+        from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+    except ImportError as exc:
+        msg = 'To use this plugin or module with ansible-core < 2.11, you need to use Python < 3.12 with distutils.version present'
+        raise_from(ImportError(msg), exc)
diff --git a/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_aa_policy.py b/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_aa_policy.py
index 1d52cca7c5..416a4a6c1f 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_aa_policy.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_aa_policy.py
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ __version__ = '${version}'
 import os
 import traceback
 
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
 
 REQUESTS_IMP_ERR = None
 try:
diff --git a/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_alert_policy.py b/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_alert_policy.py
index de9d146dc4..b6ed6e96ef 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_alert_policy.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_alert_policy.py
@@ -161,7 +161,8 @@ __version__ = '${version}'
 import json
 import os
 import traceback
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
 
 REQUESTS_IMP_ERR = None
 try:
diff --git a/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_blueprint_package.py b/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_blueprint_package.py
index bd0e868fa3..4e03062ba7 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_blueprint_package.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_blueprint_package.py
@@ -89,7 +89,8 @@ __version__ = '${version}'
 
 import os
 import traceback
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
 
 REQUESTS_IMP_ERR = None
 try:
@@ -132,8 +133,7 @@ class ClcBlueprintPackage:
             self.module.fail_json(msg=missing_required_lib('clc-sdk'), exception=CLC_IMP_ERR)
         if not REQUESTS_FOUND:
             self.module.fail_json(msg=missing_required_lib('requests'), exception=REQUESTS_IMP_ERR)
-        if requests.__version__ and LooseVersion(
-                requests.__version__) < LooseVersion('2.5.0'):
+        if requests.__version__ and LooseVersion(requests.__version__) < LooseVersion('2.5.0'):
             self.module.fail_json(
                 msg='requests library  version should be >= 2.5.0')
 
diff --git a/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_firewall_policy.py b/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_firewall_policy.py
index a8f8a4e5f0..3fc0427692 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_firewall_policy.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_firewall_policy.py
@@ -162,7 +162,8 @@ import os
 import traceback
 from ansible.module_utils.six.moves.urllib.parse import urlparse
 from time import sleep
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
 
 REQUESTS_IMP_ERR = None
 try:
@@ -203,8 +204,7 @@ class ClcFirewallPolicy:
             self.module.fail_json(msg=missing_required_lib('clc-sdk'), exception=CLC_IMP_ERR)
         if not REQUESTS_FOUND:
             self.module.fail_json(msg=missing_required_lib('requests'), exception=REQUESTS_IMP_ERR)
-        if requests.__version__ and LooseVersion(
-                requests.__version__) < LooseVersion('2.5.0'):
+        if requests.__version__ and LooseVersion(requests.__version__) < LooseVersion('2.5.0'):
             self.module.fail_json(
                 msg='requests library  version should be >= 2.5.0')
 
diff --git a/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_group.py b/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_group.py
index e1c05c6c0c..312c626914 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_group.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_group.py
@@ -207,7 +207,8 @@ __version__ = '${version}'
 
 import os
 import traceback
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
 
 REQUESTS_IMP_ERR = None
 try:
diff --git a/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_loadbalancer.py b/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_loadbalancer.py
index 950e087976..bf09ce22be 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_loadbalancer.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_loadbalancer.py
@@ -210,7 +210,8 @@ import json
 import os
 import traceback
 from time import sleep
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
 
 REQUESTS_IMP_ERR = None
 try:
@@ -255,8 +256,7 @@ class ClcLoadBalancer:
             self.module.fail_json(msg=missing_required_lib('clc-sdk'), exception=CLC_IMP_ERR)
         if not REQUESTS_FOUND:
             self.module.fail_json(msg=missing_required_lib('requests'), exception=REQUESTS_IMP_ERR)
-        if requests.__version__ and LooseVersion(
-                requests.__version__) < LooseVersion('2.5.0'):
+        if requests.__version__ and LooseVersion(requests.__version__) < LooseVersion('2.5.0'):
             self.module.fail_json(
                 msg='requests library  version should be >= 2.5.0')
 
diff --git a/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_modify_server.py b/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_modify_server.py
index 90a368867e..27cdf614ec 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_modify_server.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_modify_server.py
@@ -311,7 +311,8 @@ __version__ = '${version}'
 import json
 import os
 import traceback
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
 
 REQUESTS_IMP_ERR = None
 try:
@@ -355,8 +356,7 @@ class ClcModifyServer:
             self.module.fail_json(msg=missing_required_lib('clc-sdk'), exception=CLC_IMP_ERR)
         if not REQUESTS_FOUND:
             self.module.fail_json(msg=missing_required_lib('requests'), exception=REQUESTS_IMP_ERR)
-        if requests.__version__ and LooseVersion(
-                requests.__version__) < LooseVersion('2.5.0'):
+        if requests.__version__ and LooseVersion(requests.__version__) < LooseVersion('2.5.0'):
             self.module.fail_json(
                 msg='requests library  version should be >= 2.5.0')
 
diff --git a/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_publicip.py b/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_publicip.py
index 1cdb4aa8db..3b4fcc4eed 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_publicip.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_publicip.py
@@ -117,7 +117,8 @@ __version__ = '${version}'
 
 import os
 import traceback
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
 
 REQUESTS_IMP_ERR = None
 try:
diff --git a/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_server.py b/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_server.py
index 95481f1a52..734039875d 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_server.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_server.py
@@ -433,7 +433,8 @@ import json
 import os
 import time
 import traceback
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
 
 REQUESTS_IMP_ERR = None
 try:
@@ -478,8 +479,7 @@ class ClcServer:
             self.module.fail_json(msg=missing_required_lib('clc-sdk'), exception=CLC_IMP_ERR)
         if not REQUESTS_FOUND:
             self.module.fail_json(msg=missing_required_lib('requests'), exception=REQUESTS_IMP_ERR)
-        if requests.__version__ and LooseVersion(
-                requests.__version__) < LooseVersion('2.5.0'):
+        if requests.__version__ and LooseVersion(requests.__version__) < LooseVersion('2.5.0'):
             self.module.fail_json(
                 msg='requests library  version should be >= 2.5.0')
 
diff --git a/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_server_snapshot.py b/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_server_snapshot.py
index 1f92def088..dbee34bbb2 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_server_snapshot.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_server_snapshot.py
@@ -101,7 +101,8 @@ __version__ = '${version}'
 
 import os
 import traceback
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
 
 REQUESTS_IMP_ERR = None
 try:
@@ -145,8 +146,7 @@ class ClcSnapshot:
             self.module.fail_json(msg=missing_required_lib('clc-sdk'), exception=CLC_IMP_ERR)
         if not REQUESTS_FOUND:
             self.module.fail_json(msg=missing_required_lib('requests'), exception=REQUESTS_IMP_ERR)
-        if requests.__version__ and LooseVersion(
-                requests.__version__) < LooseVersion('2.5.0'):
+        if requests.__version__ and LooseVersion(requests.__version__) < LooseVersion('2.5.0'):
             self.module.fail_json(
                 msg='requests library  version should be >= 2.5.0')
 
diff --git a/plugins/modules/cloud/misc/proxmox.py b/plugins/modules/cloud/misc/proxmox.py
index 0fb7f1ccae..22e9ad6b7c 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/cloud/misc/proxmox.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/cloud/misc/proxmox.py
@@ -348,7 +348,8 @@ EXAMPLES = r'''
 
 import time
 import traceback
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
 
 try:
     from proxmoxer import ProxmoxAPI
diff --git a/plugins/modules/cloud/misc/proxmox_kvm.py b/plugins/modules/cloud/misc/proxmox_kvm.py
index 110a78434f..d532433223 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/cloud/misc/proxmox_kvm.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/cloud/misc/proxmox_kvm.py
@@ -725,9 +725,10 @@ msg:
 import re
 import time
 import traceback
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
 from ansible.module_utils.six.moves.urllib.parse import quote
 
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
+
 try:
     from proxmoxer import ProxmoxAPI
     HAS_PROXMOXER = True
diff --git a/plugins/modules/cloud/misc/terraform.py b/plugins/modules/cloud/misc/terraform.py
index 8c7bd8c70b..8eca14e712 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/cloud/misc/terraform.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/cloud/misc/terraform.py
@@ -230,11 +230,12 @@ command:
 import os
 import json
 import tempfile
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
 from ansible.module_utils.six.moves import shlex_quote
 
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
 
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
+
 module = None
 
 
diff --git a/plugins/modules/cloud/rackspace/rax_cbs.py b/plugins/modules/cloud/rackspace/rax_cbs.py
index b543f5979a..abfda419ed 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/cloud/rackspace/rax_cbs.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/cloud/rackspace/rax_cbs.py
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ EXAMPLES = '''
       register: my_volume
 '''
 
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
 
 try:
     import pyrax
diff --git a/plugins/modules/database/misc/kibana_plugin.py b/plugins/modules/database/misc/kibana_plugin.py
index 25d7719353..db5091e400 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/database/misc/kibana_plugin.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/database/misc/kibana_plugin.py
@@ -117,9 +117,10 @@ state:
 '''
 
 import os
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
 
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
+
 
 PACKAGE_STATE_MAP = dict(
     present="--install",
diff --git a/plugins/modules/files/xml.py b/plugins/modules/files/xml.py
index ffdb65400c..ae95e9c646 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/files/xml.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/files/xml.py
@@ -356,9 +356,10 @@ import os
 import re
 import traceback
 
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
 from io import BytesIO
 
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
+
 LXML_IMP_ERR = None
 try:
     from lxml import etree, objectify
diff --git a/plugins/modules/identity/ipa/ipa_subca.py b/plugins/modules/identity/ipa/ipa_subca.py
index 3b0d3e8707..387d63c513 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/identity/ipa/ipa_subca.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/identity/ipa/ipa_subca.py
@@ -74,11 +74,12 @@ subca:
   type: dict
 '''
 
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
 from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.ipa import IPAClient, ipa_argument_spec
 from ansible.module_utils.common.text.converters import to_native
 
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
+
 
 class SubCAIPAClient(IPAClient):
     def __init__(self, module, host, port, protocol):
diff --git a/plugins/modules/monitoring/circonus_annotation.py b/plugins/modules/monitoring/circonus_annotation.py
index 8543aa00fa..40c7297dd7 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/monitoring/circonus_annotation.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/monitoring/circonus_annotation.py
@@ -143,7 +143,8 @@ annotation:
 import json
 import time
 import traceback
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
 
 REQUESTS_IMP_ERR = None
 try:
diff --git a/plugins/modules/net_tools/dnsimple.py b/plugins/modules/net_tools/dnsimple.py
index ac1b2a1416..d6606cc098 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/net_tools/dnsimple.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/net_tools/dnsimple.py
@@ -148,9 +148,10 @@ EXAMPLES = '''
 RETURN = r"""# """
 
 import traceback
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
 import re
 
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
+
 
 class DNSimpleV1():
     """class which uses dnsimple-python < 2"""
diff --git a/plugins/modules/notification/mqtt.py b/plugins/modules/notification/mqtt.py
index 991114e8ae..6099196102 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/notification/mqtt.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/notification/mqtt.py
@@ -124,7 +124,8 @@ import os
 import ssl
 import traceback
 import platform
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
 
 HAS_PAHOMQTT = True
 PAHOMQTT_IMP_ERR = None
@@ -207,7 +208,7 @@ def main():
         if tls_version:
             tls_version = tls_map.get(tls_version, ssl.PROTOCOL_SSLv23)
         else:
-            if LooseVersion(platform.python_version()) <= "3.5.2":
+            if LooseVersion(platform.python_version()) <= LooseVersion("3.5.2"):
                 # Specifying `None` on later versions of python seems sufficient to
                 # instruct python to autonegotiate the SSL/TLS connection. On versions
                 # 3.5.2 and lower though we need to specify the version.
diff --git a/plugins/modules/notification/sendgrid.py b/plugins/modules/notification/sendgrid.py
index 4a63a03db7..2c349064b8 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/notification/sendgrid.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/notification/sendgrid.py
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ EXAMPLES = r'''
 import os
 import traceback
 
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
 
 SENDGRID_IMP_ERR = None
 try:
diff --git a/plugins/modules/packaging/os/flatpak.py b/plugins/modules/packaging/os/flatpak.py
index 7f3963ad3e..da913b5ac0 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/packaging/os/flatpak.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/packaging/os/flatpak.py
@@ -152,11 +152,11 @@ stdout:
   sample: "org.gnome.Calendar/x86_64/stable\tcurrent\norg.gnome.gitg/x86_64/stable\tcurrent\n"
 '''
 
-from distutils.version import StrictVersion
-
 from ansible.module_utils.six.moves.urllib.parse import urlparse
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
 
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
+
 OUTDATED_FLATPAK_VERSION_ERROR_MESSAGE = "Unknown option --columns=application"
 
 
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ def install_flat(module, binary, remote, names, method, no_dependencies):
             id_names.append(name)
     base_command = [binary, "install", "--{0}".format(method)]
     flatpak_version = _flatpak_version(module, binary)
-    if StrictVersion(flatpak_version) < StrictVersion('1.1.3'):
+    if LooseVersion(flatpak_version) < LooseVersion('1.1.3'):
         base_command += ["-y"]
     else:
         base_command += ["--noninteractive"]
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ def uninstall_flat(module, binary, names, method):
     ]
     command = [binary, "uninstall"]
     flatpak_version = _flatpak_version(module, binary)
-    if StrictVersion(flatpak_version) < StrictVersion('1.1.3'):
+    if LooseVersion(flatpak_version) < LooseVersion('1.1.3'):
         command += ["-y"]
     else:
         command += ["--noninteractive"]
diff --git a/plugins/modules/packaging/os/homebrew_cask.py b/plugins/modules/packaging/os/homebrew_cask.py
index 6c3de1c9ba..8fe54e3b04 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/packaging/os/homebrew_cask.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/packaging/os/homebrew_cask.py
@@ -140,7 +140,8 @@ EXAMPLES = '''
 import os
 import re
 import tempfile
-from distutils import version
+
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
 
 from ansible.module_utils.common.text.converters import to_bytes
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
@@ -493,7 +494,7 @@ class HomebrewCask(object):
 
     def _brew_cask_command_is_deprecated(self):
         # The `brew cask` replacements were fully available in 2.6.0 (https://brew.sh/2020/12/01/homebrew-2.6.0/)
-        return version.LooseVersion(self._get_brew_version()) >= version.LooseVersion('2.6.0')
+        return LooseVersion(self._get_brew_version()) >= LooseVersion('2.6.0')
     # /checks ------------------------------------------------------ }}}
 
     # commands ----------------------------------------------------- {{{
diff --git a/plugins/modules/packaging/os/mas.py b/plugins/modules/packaging/os/mas.py
index dd394b7c43..0afd858add 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/packaging/os/mas.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/packaging/os/mas.py
@@ -97,9 +97,10 @@ RETURN = r''' # '''
 
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
 from ansible.module_utils.common.text.converters import to_native
-from distutils.version import StrictVersion
 import os
 
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
+
 
 class Mas(object):
 
@@ -145,7 +146,7 @@ class Mas(object):
 
         # Is the version recent enough?
         rc, out, err = self.run(['version'])
-        if rc != 0 or not out.strip() or StrictVersion(out.strip()) < StrictVersion('1.5.0'):
+        if rc != 0 or not out.strip() or LooseVersion(out.strip()) < LooseVersion('1.5.0'):
             self.module.fail_json(msg='`mas` tool in version 1.5.0+ needed, got ' + out.strip())
 
     def check_signin(self):
diff --git a/plugins/modules/packaging/os/openbsd_pkg.py b/plugins/modules/packaging/os/openbsd_pkg.py
index 4299d60ad0..6943569f8d 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/packaging/os/openbsd_pkg.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/packaging/os/openbsd_pkg.py
@@ -135,10 +135,10 @@ import re
 import shlex
 import sqlite3
 
-from distutils.version import StrictVersion
-
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
 
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
+
 
 # Function used for executing commands.
 def execute_command(cmd, module):
@@ -435,7 +435,7 @@ def parse_package_name(names, pkg_spec, module):
         if pkg_spec[name]['branch']:
             branch_release = "6.0"
 
-            if StrictVersion(platform.release()) < StrictVersion(branch_release):
+            if LooseVersion(platform.release()) < LooseVersion(branch_release):
                 module.fail_json(msg="package name using 'branch' syntax requires at least OpenBSD %s: %s" % (branch_release, name))
 
         # Sanity check that there are no trailing dashes in flavor.
diff --git a/plugins/modules/packaging/os/zypper_repository.py b/plugins/modules/packaging/os/zypper_repository.py
index a29650a17e..8483df4c61 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/packaging/os/zypper_repository.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/packaging/os/zypper_repository.py
@@ -133,8 +133,6 @@ except ImportError:
     XML_IMP_ERR = traceback.format_exc()
     HAS_XML = False
 
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
-
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule, missing_required_lib
 
 from ansible.module_utils.urls import fetch_url
@@ -142,6 +140,8 @@ from ansible.module_utils.common.text.converters import to_text
 from ansible.module_utils.six.moves import configparser, StringIO
 from io import open
 
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
+
 REPO_OPTS = ['alias', 'name', 'priority', 'enabled', 'autorefresh', 'gpgcheck']
 
 
diff --git a/plugins/modules/source_control/gitlab/gitlab_branch.py b/plugins/modules/source_control/gitlab/gitlab_branch.py
index 2d60aedc19..ce71a00a9b 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/source_control/gitlab/gitlab_branch.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/source_control/gitlab/gitlab_branch.py
@@ -73,7 +73,8 @@ import traceback
 
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule, missing_required_lib
 from ansible.module_utils.api import basic_auth_argument_spec
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
 
 GITLAB_IMP_ERR = None
 try:
diff --git a/plugins/modules/source_control/gitlab/gitlab_protected_branch.py b/plugins/modules/source_control/gitlab/gitlab_protected_branch.py
index d237784cbc..fe8e98a3f3 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/source_control/gitlab/gitlab_protected_branch.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/source_control/gitlab/gitlab_protected_branch.py
@@ -73,7 +73,8 @@ import traceback
 
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule, missing_required_lib
 from ansible.module_utils.api import basic_auth_argument_spec
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
 
 GITLAB_IMP_ERR = None
 try:
diff --git a/plugins/modules/system/dpkg_divert.py b/plugins/modules/system/dpkg_divert.py
index 1033f70f14..709d35b865 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/system/dpkg_divert.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/system/dpkg_divert.py
@@ -158,11 +158,12 @@ diversion:
 
 import re
 import os
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
 
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
 from ansible.module_utils.common.text.converters import to_bytes, to_native
 
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
+
 
 def diversion_state(module, command, path):
     diversion = dict(path=path, state='absent', divert=None, holder=None)
diff --git a/plugins/modules/system/filesystem.py b/plugins/modules/system/filesystem.py
index 4f1d6ee0d1..2245d341ce 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/system/filesystem.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/system/filesystem.py
@@ -115,7 +115,6 @@ EXAMPLES = '''
     fstype: vfat
 '''
 
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
 import os
 import platform
 import re
@@ -124,6 +123,8 @@ import stat
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
 from ansible.module_utils.common.text.converters import to_native
 
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
+
 
 class Device(object):
     def __init__(self, module, path):
diff --git a/plugins/modules/system/pids.py b/plugins/modules/system/pids.py
index 9745c31449..1fd8014070 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/system/pids.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/system/pids.py
@@ -56,13 +56,14 @@ pids:
 
 import abc
 import re
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
 from os.path import basename
 
 from ansible.module_utils import six
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule, missing_required_lib
 from ansible.module_utils.common.text.converters import to_native
 
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
+
 try:
     import psutil
 
diff --git a/plugins/modules/system/python_requirements_info.py b/plugins/modules/system/python_requirements_info.py
index aae85a2d3e..76be56850d 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/system/python_requirements_info.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/system/python_requirements_info.py
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ import operator
 HAS_DISTUTILS = False
 try:
     import pkg_resources
-    from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+    from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
     HAS_DISTUTILS = True
 except ImportError:
     pass
diff --git a/plugins/modules/web_infrastructure/htpasswd.py b/plugins/modules/web_infrastructure/htpasswd.py
index b15a946448..2eebdfd5b8 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/web_infrastructure/htpasswd.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/web_infrastructure/htpasswd.py
@@ -95,10 +95,11 @@ EXAMPLES = """
 import os
 import tempfile
 import traceback
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule, missing_required_lib
 from ansible.module_utils.common.text.converters import to_native
 
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
+
 PASSLIB_IMP_ERR = None
 try:
     from passlib.apache import HtpasswdFile, htpasswd_context