Samba 4.12 End of Life
Support dates and upgrade guidance — rebuilt from live data.
Samba 4.12 reached end of life on 20 Sept 2021. It no longer receives security fixes.
Support timeline
Official dates from the Samba release process.
| Milestone | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Initial release | 3 Mar 2020 | 6y 7mo ago |
| Active Support ended | 9 Mar 2021 | security fixes only after this |
| Security Support ended | 20 Sept 2021 | 5y ago |
| Latest release | 4.12.15 · 26 Apr 2021 | final |
Where to go from 4.12
Recommended target: Samba 4.25 (supported until 31 Mar 2028).
The newest actively supported branch is Samba 4.25 (latest release 4.25.0).
Frequently asked questions
Is Samba 4.12 still safe to use?
Samba 4.12 reached end of life on 20 Sept 2021, 1,841 days ago, and is no longer covered by standard support. Running it means no guaranteed security fixes.
Can I still download Samba 4.12?
Yes — the final release (4.12.15) generally remains available from vendor archives and OS package mirrors, but installing it means running software with known, unpatched vulnerabilities.
What should I upgrade Samba 4.12 to?
Upgrade to Samba 4.25, the newest actively supported branch (supported until 31 Mar 2028).