Protocol Buffers 4.x · Version Status
Protocol Buffers 4.x End of Life Date
Protocol Buffers 4.x end-of-life date, support status, and CVE risk. Data from endoflife.date and official vendor documentation.
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Protocol Buffers 4.x is actively supported. EOL date: March 31, 2028.
📅 Get reminded before Protocol Buffers 4.x reaches EOL on March 31, 2028 — alerts 90, 30 & 7 days out.
EOL Date
Mar 31, 2028
608 days remaining
Latest Release
4.35.1
Standard release
Release Date
Mar 13, 2024
Protocol Buffers 4.x series
Lifecycle detail
Protocol Buffers 4.x was released on March 13, 2024 and support is scheduled to end on March 31, 2028 — a planned supported lifespan of 4 years and 1 month. It is not an LTS release; Protocol Buffers reserves longer patch windows for its LTS versions. Its most recent patch is 4.35.1, published June 11, 2026.
Attack Surface
10/30 Medium tier
CISA KEV Exposure
0/20 Not in KEV
Extended Support
0/10 Available
EOL Risk Score™ — proprietary methodology by endoflife.ai. Factors: EOL recency, attack surface breadth, CISA KEV catalog presence, extended support availability. Updated at every build.
Methodology → ·
View score card →
All Protocol Buffers Versions
| Version | Latest | EOL Date | Status |
|---|
| 2.x |
2.6.1 |
Supported |
EOL |
| 3.0-3.24 |
3.24.4 |
Supported |
EOL |
| 3.25 LTS |
3.25.9 |
Mar 31, 2027 |
Active |
| → 4.x |
4.35.1 |
Mar 31, 2028 |
Active |
What does Protocol Buffers 4.x end of life mean?
When Protocol Buffers 4.x reaches end of life, the maintainers stop issuing security patches for this version. CVEs discovered after the EOL date are publicly disclosed on the National Vulnerability Database with no patch available. Exploit code frequently appears on GitHub within days of disclosure.
The CVE blind spot: Most vulnerability scanners check for known CVEs but do not flag the ongoing accumulation of unpatched vulnerabilities in EOL software versions. Running Protocol Buffers 4.x past its EOL date creates a permanently growing attack surface that standard security tooling will not surface.
Migrate to Protocol Buffers 4.x or implement compensating controls — network segmentation, enhanced monitoring, restricted access — while migration is underway.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Protocol Buffers 4.x reach end of life?
Protocol Buffers 4.x reached end of life on March 31, 2028. That is 608 days remaining.
Is Protocol Buffers 4.x still supported?
Yes, Protocol Buffers 4.x is currently supported. The EOL date is March 31, 2028.
What should I upgrade to from Protocol Buffers 4.x?
The recommended upgrade from Protocol Buffers 4.x is
Protocol Buffers 4.x — the latest actively supported version. Check the
Protocol Buffers full timeline for all supported versions.
What are the security risks of running Protocol Buffers 4.x past EOL?
When Protocol Buffers 4.x reaches end of life, the maintainers stop issuing security patches. Any CVEs disclosed after the EOL date accumulate with no remediation path. Most vulnerability scanners do not flag this — it is the CVE blind spot. Organizations running EOL Protocol Buffers should migrate immediately or implement compensating controls.