Python 3.8 End of Life
Support dates, vulnerabilities published since end of life, and upgrade guidance — rebuilt from live data.
Python 3.8 reached end of life on 7 Oct 2024. It no longer receives security fixes.
Support timeline
Official dates from the Python release process.
| Milestone | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Initial release | 14 Oct 2019 | — |
| End of life | 7 Oct 2024 | 1.8 years ago |
| Active support ended | 3 May 2021 | security fixes only after this |
| Latest release | 3.8.20 · 6 Sept 2024 | final |
The cost of staying: CVEs since end of life
15 Python vulnerabilities have been published since 7 Oct 2024. All were fixed in supported branches — 3.8 received none of them. Source: NVD.
Python CVEs published since 3.8's EOL, by year
0 of the 15 are rated critical · data refreshed 2026-08-09
Published 22 Oct 2024 · rated high — fixed in supported branches only, never in 3.8. Details
Published 1 Dec 2025 · rated high — fixed in supported branches only, never in 3.8. Details
Published 16 Mar 2026 · rated high — fixed in supported branches only, never in 3.8. Details
Where to go from 3.8
Recommended target: Python 3.14 (supported until 31 Oct 2030).
The newest actively supported branch is Python 3.14 (latest release 3.14.7). Review docs.python.org before upgrading.
Frequently asked questions
Is Python 3.8 still safe to use?
No. Python 3.8 stopped receiving security fixes on 7 Oct 2024. Since then, 15 Python vulnerabilities have been published and fixed in supported branches — Python 3.8 received none of those fixes.
Can I still download Python 3.8?
Yes — the final release (3.8.20) generally remains available from vendor archives and OS package mirrors, but installing it means running software with known, unpatched vulnerabilities.
What should I upgrade Python 3.8 to?
Upgrade to Python 3.14, the newest actively supported branch (supported until 31 Oct 2030).