Samba 4.2 End of Life
Support dates and upgrade guidance — rebuilt from live data.
Samba 4.2 reached end of life on 7 Sept 2016. It no longer receives security fixes.
Support timeline
Official dates from the Samba release process.
| Milestone | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Initial release | 4 Mar 2015 | 11y 7mo ago |
| Active Support ended | 22 Mar 2016 | security fixes only after this |
| Security Support ended | 7 Sept 2016 | 10y 1mo ago |
| Latest release | 4.2.14 · 7 Jul 2016 | final |
Where to go from 4.2
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 4.2 still safe to use?
Samba 4.2 reached end of life on 7 Sept 2016, 3,680 days ago, and is no longer covered by standard support. Running it means no guaranteed security fixes.
Can I still download Samba 4.2?
Yes — the final release (4.2.14) 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 4.2 to?
Upgrade to Samba 4.25, the newest actively supported branch (supported until 31 Mar 2028).