If you're running Node.js 18 or Node.js 20 in production, your runtime is a security liability right now.
Node.js 18 reached end of life on April 30, 2025. Node.js 20 reached end of life on April 30, 2026. Together they represent two of the most widely deployed Node.js versions in production environments — and both are now unpatched.
What end of life actually means
EOL doesn't mean Node.js stops working. Your app will keep running. What it means is the Node.js team will no longer release security patches for that version. When a new vulnerability is discovered — and they will be — there's no fix coming.
This is what security teams call a CVE blind spot. Vulnerability scanners check for known CVEs against supported versions. EOL software accumulates vulnerabilities silently. Your scanner shows green. Your exposure grows.
The verified EOL dates
Node.js 18 — EOL April 30, 2025
Node.js 20 — EOL April 30, 2026
Node.js 22 — Supported until April 30, 2027
Node.js 24 LTS — Supported until April 30, 2028
What you should migrate to
For production workloads today, Node.js 22 is your minimum target. It's in Maintenance LTS and supported until April 2027.
If you're starting fresh or have flexibility, Node.js 24 LTS gives you the longest runway — supported until April 2028.
Skip Node.js 20 as a migration target entirely. It's already EOL.
How to check your version
node --version
For a full picture of every EOL dependency in your stack — not just Node.js — the Stack Scanner at endoflife.ai lets you upload your package.json and get a complete EOL risk report in under a minute. Free, no signup, nothing leaves your browser.
👉 endoflife.ai/scanner.html
The migration is straightforward
For most projects upgrading to Node.js 22 is low friction. The breaking changes are minimal. The teams that get hurt by EOL software are the ones that find out six months later during an incident.
Check your version. Plan your migration. It's a week of work, not a crisis — as long as you do it now.
Top comments (0)