Node.js 18 End of Life: Breaking Changes, AWS Deadlines, and What to Do Next

Node.js 18 officially reached End of Life on April 30, 2025 — and if you’re still running it in production, you’re already in unsupported territory.

No security patches. No bug fixes. No guarantees your cloud or CI/CD environments will keep running it much longer.

This isn’t theoretical risk — the ecosystem has already moved on. Let’s break down what’s changing, what AWS is doing, and how to keep your systems secure.

‍

Node 18’s Support Window Is Closed

Node 18 was launched in April 2022, reached long-term support that fall, and exited the scene in the spring of 2025.

That EOL cutoff means:

• Security vulnerabilities are no longer patched
• Package maintainers have dropped compatibility
• Cloud providers are retiring Node 18 runtimes

Every week you stay on Node 18, your exposure to unpatched CVEs and operational instability increases.

‍

‍

AWS Elastic Beanstalk: Retirement Timeline

AWS Elastic Beanstalk (EB) is actively retiring Node 18 across its platform branches.

Key milestones:

‍

EB policy: once a runtime is marked EOL by its vendor, EB retires the branch. Retired branches:

• Stop receiving maintenance and security updates.
• May be removed from new-environment options.
• Continue to run existing apps — but at growing risk.
  
  

EB’s platform history (as of October 2025) lists Node 20 and Node 22 as the only actively supported branches.

If you’re still on Node 18 (AL2 or AL2023), begin migrating now.

‍

‍

AWS Lambda and CDK Deadlines

• AWS Lambda: new nodejs18.x functions blocked September 1 2025; full deprecation March 9 2026.‍
• AWS CDK: Node 18.x support ends November 30, 2025.
  
  

After those dates, deployments using Node 18 will fail or operate without vendor security coverage.

‍

‍

Major Breaking Changes in Node 18 → 20/22

When you upgrade, expect tangible differences:

• V8 Engine 10.1 + — changed JavaScript engine behavior; subtle differences in math, timers, and async execution.
• API Deprecations/Removals: older fs, url, and crypto behaviors removed.
• Native Modules: binary addons (e.g., bcrypt, canvas, node-sass) require rebuilds.‍
• Toolchain Shifts: Node 20+ requires newer OS libraries (glibc 2.28+, macOS 10.15+).
• ‍TLS and Crypto Defaults: updated OpenSSL introduces stricter policies.
  
  

Testing these areas early prevents runtime surprises in production.

‍

‍

Migration-Specific Notes for Elastic Beanstalk

Migrating an EB environment may also involve an OS jump (e.g., Amazon Linux 2 → Amazon Linux 2023).

That can impact file permissions, environment variables, and startup scripts.

Before cutover:

• Clone or stage your EB environment on a Node 20 or 22 branch.
• Run full regression tests, including integrations and performance checks.
• Validate deployment scripts (Procfile, npm start, buildpacks).
• Review filesystem paths and permissions under the new OS.
• Monitor logs post-migration for subtle runtime errors.
  
  

‍

Recommended Migration Plan

1. Inventory – Identify all Node 18 environments (EB, Lambda, containers, CI/CD).
   
   
2. Audit – Run npm audit / pnpm outdated; note deprecated packages.
   
   
3. Select Target – Migrate to Node 22 LTS for maximum runway.
   
   
4. Prepare Test Env – Clone an EB environment using the new platform branch.
   
   
5. Fix Issues – Update dependencies, rebuild native modules, adjust deprecated APIs.
   
   
6. Deploy Safely – Use blue/green or rolling deployments.
   
   
7. Decommission – Stop deploying to retired Node 18 branches.
   
   
8. Document & Communicate – Record version changes and share migration timelines internally.
   
   

‍

Why This Matters

Running on a retired platform means:

• No security updates or vendor support.
• Growing incompatibility with dependencies that assume newer Node behavior.
• Rising compliance and operational risk.
  
  

Migrating now unlocks modern performance, improved diagnostics, and multi-year support horizons.

‍

‍

If You Can’t Migrate Yet

Some systems are pinned to Node 18 by dependencies or regulatory freezes.

That’s where HeroDevs Never-Ending Support comes in — providing ongoing security updates and compliance patches for EOL open-source software.

Stay secure while you modernize on your timeline.

‍

‍

Final Take

Node 18 has been out of support since April 30 2025.
Elastic Beanstalk, Lambda, and CDK deadlines are approaching fast.

Your checklist:

• Audit Node 18 usage.
• Migrate to Node 22 LTS.
• Secure temporary EOL support until you finish the move.
  
  

EOL doesn’t have to mean risk.

With HeroDevs' Never-Ending Support, your systems stay patched and compliant — even after upstream support stops. Explore pricing.

‍