Node.js 14 End of Life —
April 30, 2023. Are You Still Running It?
Node.js 14 reached its official end of life on April 30, 2023. Since that date, the Node.js project has issued zero security patches, zero CVE fixes, and zero updates of any kind for Node.js 14. Every production server still running Node.js 14 is operating on an unpatched runtime with a growing list of known vulnerabilities and no remediation path from the upstream maintainer.
Key Dates at a Glance
- Node.js 24: active support ends 2026-10-20; end of life 2028-04-30
- Node.js 22: active support ends 2025-10-21; end of life 2027-04-30
- Node.js 20: active support ends 2024-10-22; end of life 2026-04-30
- Node.js 18: active support ends 2023-10-18; end of life 2025-04-30
- Node.js 16: active support ends 2022-10-18; end of life 2023-09-11
- Node.js 14: active support ends 2021-10-19; end of life 2023-04-30
Node.js 14 Official EOL Date
Node.js 14 entered Long-Term Support (LTS) status in October 2020 under the codename "Fermium." LTS versions receive active maintenance for 18 months, then move to a maintenance phase before reaching end of life. Node.js 14's maintenance window closed and its end-of-life date was set as April 30, 2023 — this is the official date published by the Node.js Release Working Group.
After April 30, 2023, the Node.js project stopped publishing releases for the v14.x line entirely. No patches, no backports, no CVE remediations. The Node.js 14 release train is permanently stopped.
EOL Risk Score for Node.js 14
endoflife.ai assigns every EOL product an EOL Risk Score™ — a 0–100 composite score that measures real-world exposure, not just whether a version is past its support date. Node.js 14 currently scores 70/100 — the live value, recalculated at every site build.
The score is calculated from four factors:
- Recency: Node.js 14 reached EOL over three years ago — the maximum recency weight.
- Attack surface: Node.js is a critical runtime used in web servers, APIs, and backend services — the maximum attack-surface weight.
- KEV: CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog names Node.js — the KEV factor applies in full.
- Support: Commercial extended support is available for EOL Node.js, so a mitigation path exists — the only factor that pulls the score down, and the Node.js project itself issues no further patches.
Full Node.js EOL Schedule
Node.js 14 is one of several end-of-life versions. Here's where every major LTS version stands today:
| Version | Codename | LTS Start | End of Life | Status | Risk Score™ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Node.js 12 | Erbium | Oct 2019 | Apr 30, 2022 | EOL | 70 |
| Node.js 14 ← You are here | Fermium | Oct 2020 | Apr 30, 2023 | EOL | 70 |
| Node.js 16 | Gallium | Oct 2021 | Sep 11, 2023 | EOL | 70 |
| Node.js 18 | Hydrogen | Oct 2022 | Apr 30, 2025 | EOL | 65 |
| Node.js 20 | Iron | Oct 2023 | Apr 30, 2026 | EOL | 60 |
| Node.js 22 | Jod | Oct 2024 | Apr 30, 2027 | Maintenance LTS | 30 |
| Node.js 24 | Krypton | Oct 2025 | Apr 30, 2028 | Active LTS | 30 |
| Node.js 26 | TBD | Oct 2026 | Apr 30, 2029 | Current | 30 |
What to Do If You're Still Running Node.js 14
If your production environment is running Node.js 14, you have three options, in order of preference:
- Upgrade to Node.js 24 (Active LTS). This is the recommended path. Node.js 24 is the current Active LTS line — active support to October 2026 and security patches through April 2028. Node.js 22 is already in maintenance (security fixes only, to April 2027), so it is a shorter runway. The upgrade path from 14 spans several major versions — test thoroughly before deploying.
- Upgrade to Node.js 20 as an interim step. If a direct jump to 22 introduces breaking changes, upgrading to 20 first reduces the delta. Note that Node.js 20 also reached EOL on April 30, 2026 — treat it as a stepping stone, not a destination.
- Engage a vendor for extended security support. If you cannot upgrade immediately due to legacy dependencies or migration constraints, specialist vendors offer commercial extended security support for Node.js 14 — providing CVE patches past the official EOL date.
Extended Support Options for Node.js 14
Commercial extended security support for Node.js 14 is available past its official EOL date:
- Commercial Extended Lifecycle Support. Specialist vendors offer CVE backports and security patches for Node.js 14 past the official EOL date — keeping production workloads secure while you plan your migration, with SLA-backed response. Compare options on our partners page.
Extended support buys time — it does not replace upgrading. Use it as a bridge while you complete the migration, not as a permanent solution.
Node.js currently carries an EOL Risk Score™ of 60/100 — Grade C, elevated risk, recalculated at every site build from EOL recency, attack surface, CISA KEV exposure, and extended-support availability. Per-version scores and dates are on the Node.js lifecycle page.
The right response comes down to one question: how many more years does this system need to run? Under a year, extended support (where it exists) is usually cheaper than an emergency migration. One to three years, migrate — support fees paid repeatedly cost more than doing the project once. Indefinitely, migrate now and plan the next one before it surprises you. Extended support is often the more expensive choice over a multi-year horizon — a bridge, not a destination. And if this deadline feels like vendor caprice, it isn’t — why end of life is inevitable for every version, with the receipts.
Upgrading from Node.js 14
The upgrade path from Node.js 14 to 24 crosses five major version boundaries; the breaking changes that matter most on the way: The most significant breaking changes to watch for:
- Node.js 14 → 16: Removed legacy URL API, updated V8 to 9.x, stricter ESM handling.
- Node.js 16 → 18: Fetch API natively available, V8 10.x, experimental node:test module introduced.
- Node.js 18 → 20: Stable test runner, updated permission model, V8 11.x.
- Node.js 20 → 22: Require(ESM) support, updated WebSocket API, V8 12.x.
- Node.js 22 → 24: V8 13.6, the permission model goes stable (
--permission),url.parse()runtime-deprecated,tls.createSecurePairremoved.
The fastest path is to test your application against Node.js 24 directly. Most well-maintained Node.js 14 codebases will run on 24 with modest changes. The common blockers are native addons compiled against older N-API versions, and packages that depend on removed legacy APIs.
node --version on your production servers to confirm what version you're running. If it returns v14.x.x, you are on an end-of-life runtime and should begin migration planning immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Node.js 14 still supported?
No. Node.js 14 reached end of life on 2023-04-30 and the Node.js project has published no release for the 14.x line since. Every CVE disclosed against the runtime, its bundled V8 engine or its OpenSSL bindings after that date is permanently unfixed in v14.
When did Node.js 14 reach end of life?
2023-04-30. Node.js 14 (“Fermium”) entered LTS in October 2020, its active support ended 2021-10-19, and its maintenance phase ended on 2023-04-30 — the date published by the Node.js Release Working Group.
Which Node.js version should I upgrade to?
Node.js 24, the current Active LTS: active support runs to 2026-10-20 and security support to 2028-04-30. Node.js 22 is already in maintenance (security fixes only) until 2027-04-30, and Node.js 20 reached end of life on 2026-04-30, so neither is a long-term destination. Node.js 26 shipped 2026-05-05 and becomes LTS in October 2026.
Are Node.js 16, 18 and 20 also end of life?
Yes, all three: Node.js 16 on 2023-09-11, Node.js 18 on 2025-04-30 and Node.js 20 on 2026-04-30. An application that upgraded from 14 to 16 or 18 a few years ago is back on an unsupported runtime today.
Is there extended support for Node.js 14?
Yes. The Node.js project ships nothing for 14, but commercial vendors sell extended security support that backports CVE fixes to end-of-life Node.js lines for a subscription — a bridge for applications that cannot upgrade this quarter. Tell us your situation via the form on this page and we will reply with matched options and pricing guidance.
Can I upgrade straight from Node.js 14 to 24?
Usually, yes. Test the application on 24 directly rather than stepping through 16, 18, 20 and 22; the common blockers are native addons compiled against old N-API versions and packages that rely on removed legacy APIs. Step through intermediate versions only when a direct test surfaces a failure you cannot isolate.
How do I check which Node.js version is running?
Run node --version on the server (or inside the container image). v14.x.x means an end-of-life runtime. For a fleet, check the engines field in package.json, CI images and Dockerfiles too — the pinned base image is usually where an old version hides.
The Monthly EOL Digest™
Once a month — critical EOL dates, CVE blind spots, and lifecycle changes worth knowing about.