Node.js 12 End of Life
Support dates, vulnerabilities published since end of life, and upgrade guidance — rebuilt from live data.
Node.js 12 reached end of life on 30 Apr 2022. It no longer receives security fixes.
Support timeline
Official dates from the Node.js release process.
| Milestone | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Initial release | 23 Apr 2019 | — |
| End of life | 30 Apr 2022 | 4.3 years ago |
| Active support ended | 20 Oct 2020 | security fixes only after this |
| Latest release | 12.22.12 · 5 Apr 2022 | final |
The cost of staying: CVEs since end of life
57 Node.js vulnerabilities have been published since 30 Apr 2022. All were fixed in supported branches — 12 received none of them. Source: NVD.
Node.js CVEs published since 12's EOL, by year
8 of the 57 are rated critical · data refreshed 2026-08-09
Published 20 Jan 2026 · rated critical — fixed in supported branches only, never in 12. Details
Published 21 Aug 2023 · rated critical — fixed in supported branches only, never in 12. Details
Published 18 Oct 2023 · rated critical — fixed in supported branches only, never in 12. Details
Where to go from 12
Recommended target: Node.js 26 (supported until 30 Apr 2029).
The newest actively supported branch is Node.js 26 (latest release 26.7.0). Review the Node.js changelog before upgrading. Run npx ls-engines to check package compatibility.
Frequently asked questions
Is Node.js 12 still safe to use?
No. Node.js 12 stopped receiving security fixes on 30 Apr 2022. Since then, 57 Node.js vulnerabilities have been published and fixed in supported branches — Node.js 12 received none of those fixes.
Can I still download Node.js 12?
Yes — the final release (12.22.12) generally remains available from vendor archives and OS package mirrors, but installing it means running software with known, unpatched vulnerabilities.
What should I upgrade Node.js 12 to?
Upgrade to Node.js 26, the newest actively supported branch (supported until 30 Apr 2029).