As containerization technology has become the backbone of modern IT infrastructure, many organizations are seeking clarity on Docker Engine’s version management and support policies. Understanding the lifecycle of Docker Engine versions in production environments is crucial for making informed decisions about security and stability. Today, we’ll provide a comprehensive overview of Docker Engine’s End of Support (EOS) and End of Life (EOL) schedules across all versions, along with practical information for real-world implementation.
1. What is Docker Engine?
Docker Engine is a containerization technology that allows applications to be packaged independently, eliminating the need to install or manage software dependencies. Containers are isolated from one another and bundle their own software, libraries, and configuration files.
Docker Engine is a client-server application that includes these major components:
- Server (dockerd command): A long-running program called a daemon process
- REST API: Interfaces that programs can use to communicate with and instruct the daemon
- CLI client (docker command): Command line interface
2. Understanding Docker Engine’s Release Policy and Support Framework
Understanding Docker’s release policy is the foundation of effective version management. Docker clearly defines its product release lifecycle, specifying customer availability, support availability, limitations, and retirement processes for each stage.
Key Release Stage Characteristics:
- Experimental: Limited user access, best-effort support
- Beta: Initial releases, community support channels
- Early Access (EA): Specific user groups, same support level as GA
- General Availability (GA): Access for all users, full support provided
For retirement of major features or products, Docker strives to notify customers at least 6 months in advance, provides viable alternatives, and commits to continued support until the retirement date.
3. Current Docker Engine Version Support Status
Currently supported Docker Engine versions can be verified at endoflife.date, with the latest version 28.4 released on September 3, 2025.
Latest Supported Versions (as of October 2025):
- Docker Engine 28.x series: Currently under active support
- Docker Engine 27.x series: Some versions EOL, only 27.5 has limited support
- Docker Engine 26.x series: Mostly EOL
- Docker Engine 25.x series: Only 25.0 under limited support
4. Complete EOS/EOL Schedule for All Docker Engine Versions
Currently Supported Latest Versions (October 2025)
| Version | Release Date | EOL Date | Latest Patch | Support Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28.4 | 2025-09-03 | Active | 28.4.0 | ✅ Active Support | Latest stable version |
| 28.3 | 2025-06-18 | Active | 28.3.3 | ✅ Active Support | – |
| 28.2 | 2025-05-13 | Active | 28.2.2 | ✅ Active Support | – |
| 28.1 | 2025-04-15 | Active | 28.1.1 | ✅ Active Support | – |
| 28.0 | 2025-03-25 | Active | 28.0.4 | ✅ Active Support | CVE-2025-54388 fix |
Limited Support and Recent EOL Versions
| Version | Release Date | EOL Date | Latest Patch | Support Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27.5 | 2025-01-13 | 2025-05-03 | 27.5.1 | ⚠️ Limited Support | Security patches only |
| 27.4 | 2024-12-09 | 2025-01-13 | 27.4.1 | ❌ EOL | – |
| 27.3 | 2024-09-19 | 2024-12-09 | 27.3.1 | ❌ EOL | – |
| 27.2 | 2024-08-27 | 2024-09-19 | 27.2.1 | ❌ EOL | – |
| 27.1 | 2024-07-22 | 2024-08-27 | 27.1.2 | ❌ EOL | – |
| 27.0 | 2024-06-25 | 2024-07-22 | 27.0.3 | ❌ EOL | – |
| 26.1 | 2024-04-22 | 2025-02-17 | 26.1.5 | ❌ EOL | – |
| 26.0 | 2024-03-20 | 2024-04-22 | 26.0.2 | ❌ EOL | – |
| 25.0 | 2024-01-19 | Ongoing Support | 25.0.13 | ⚠️ Limited Support | Long-term support |
Major EOL Versions
| Version | Release Date | EOL Date | Final Patch | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24.0 | 2023-05-16 | 2024-06-08 | 24.0.9 | Enhanced containerd integration |
| 23.0 | 2023-02-02 | 2025-05-19 | 23.0.18 | BuildKit improvements |
| 22.x | – | – | – | Not released |
| 21.x | – | – | – | Not released |
| 20.10 | 2020-12-09 | 2023-12-10 | 20.10.27 | De facto LTS release |
Complete Legacy Docker Engine Versions (v1.x – v19.x)
| Version | Release Date | EOL Date | Final Patch | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19.03 | 2019-07-22 | 2021-01-08 | 19.03.15 | Rootless mode introduction |
| 18.09 | 2018-11-08 | 2019-08-22 | 18.09.9 | Security enhancements |
| 18.06 | 2018-07-18 | 2018-12-08 | 18.06.3 | BuildKit beta |
| 18.05 | 2018-06-13 | 2018-07-18 | 18.05.0 | Multi-stage build improvements |
| 18.04 | 2018-04-10 | 2018-06-13 | 18.04.0 | Platform support |
| 18.03 | 2018-03-21 | 2018-04-10 | 18.03.1 | Kubernetes support improvements |
| 18.02 | 2018-02-07 | 2018-03-21 | 18.02.0 | Stack command improvements |
| 18.01 | 2018-01-10 | 2018-02-07 | 18.01.0 | Log plugin support |
| 17.12 | 2017-12-27 | 2018-01-10 | 17.12.1 | Security updates |
| 17.11 | 2017-11-20 | 2017-12-27 | 17.11.0 | Multi-stage builds |
| 17.10 | 2017-10-17 | 2017-11-20 | 17.10.0 | Overlay2 improvements |
| 17.09 | 2017-09-26 | 2017-10-17 | 17.09.1 | Multi-platform support |
| 17.07 | 2017-08-29 | 2017-09-26 | 17.07.0 | Build cache improvements |
| 17.06 | 2017-06-28 | 2017-08-29 | 17.06.2 | Multi-stage builds GA |
| 17.05 | 2017-05-04 | 2017-06-28 | 17.05.0 | Build args improvements |
| 17.04 | 2017-04-05 | 2017-05-04 | 17.04.0 | Networking improvements |
| 17.03 | 2017-03-01 | 2017-04-05 | 17.03.2 | Multi-stage builds beta |
Docker Engine v1.x Legacy Versions
| Version | Release Date | EOL Date | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.13 | 2017-01-18 | 2017-03-01 | Compose file v3 support |
| 1.12 | 2016-07-28 | 2017-01-18 | Swarm mode introduction |
| 1.11 | 2016-04-13 | 2016-07-28 | Networking plugins |
| 1.10 | 2016-02-04 | 2016-04-13 | Content addressable |
| 1.9 | 2015-11-03 | 2016-02-04 | Volume plugins |
| 1.8 | 2015-08-11 | 2015-11-03 | Content trust |
| 1.7 | 2015-06-16 | 2015-08-11 | Experimental networking |
| 1.6 | 2015-04-07 | 2015-06-16 | Logging drivers |
| 1.5 | 2015-02-10 | 2015-04-07 | IPv6 support |
| 1.4 | 2014-12-11 | 2015-02-10 | Security enhancements |
| 1.3 | 2014-10-16 | 2014-12-11 | Exec command |
| 1.2 | 2014-08-20 | 2014-10-16 | Restart policies |
| 1.1 | 2014-07-03 | 2014-08-20 | .dockerignore |
| 1.0 | 2014-06-09 | 2014-07-03 | First stable release |
5. Mirantis Container Runtime (MCR) Support Policy
Mirantis Container Runtime is closely related to Docker Engine and provides important support policies for enterprise environments:
Current MCR Supported Versions
| MCR Version | GA Date | EOL Date | Support Period | Support Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise 25.0 | 2024-12-04 | 2026-12-04 | 2 years | ✅ Full Support |
| MCR 23.0.0+ | 2023-02-02 | 2025-06-04 | ~2 years 3 months | ⚠️ Limited Support |
| MCR 20.10.0+ | 2020-12-09 | 2023-12-10 | 3 years | ❌ EOL |
MCR Support Stage Details
| Period | Support Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0-12 months | Full Support | All feature updates and bug fixes |
| 12-18 months | Limited Support | Critical bugs and security issues only |
| 18-24 months | Security Only | Critical security issues only |
EOL MCR Versions
| MCR Version | EOL Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MCR 19.03.8+ | 2022-05-27 | Enterprise support ended |
| Docker Engine – Enterprise 19.03 | 2021-07-21 | Docker Enterprise 3.0 |
| Docker Engine – Enterprise 18.09 | 2020-11-06 | – |
| Docker Engine – Enterprise 18.03 | 2020-06-16 | – |
| Docker Engine – Enterprise 17.06 | 2020-04-16 | – |
| EE 17.03.z | 2018-03-01 | Initial enterprise version |
6. Docker Engine Version Check Methods and Upgrade Strategies
Checking Current Docker Engine Version
# Check server version
docker version --format '{{.Server.Version}}'
# Full version information
docker version
# Simple version check
docker --version
Recommended Upgrade Strategy
- Use Currently Supported Versions: Docker Engine 28.x latest version recommended
- Regular Monitoring: Check latest EOL information via endoflife.date/docker-engine
- Staged Upgrades: Thoroughly test major version upgrades in test environments before production deployment
- Security Priority: Immediately upgrade to versions containing CVE patches
7. Security-Focused Version Management Strategy
Recent Major CVEs and Security Issues
| CVE | Affected Versions | Fixed Version | Severity | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2025-54388 | 28.x | 28.0.4+ | High | Port access issue after firewalld reload |
| CVE-2024-41110 | 27.x | 27.1.1+ | Medium | AuthZ plugin related |
| CVE-2024-29018 | 25.x | 25.0.4+ | Medium | Internal network DNS exfiltration |
| CVE-2024-24557 | 25.x | 25.0.2+ | Medium | BuildKit related |
Security Update Priorities:
- Upgrade to the latest supported version (28.4)
- Apply minor updates containing security patches
- Establish migration plans for versions approaching EOL
8. Official Resources to Monitor
- Docker Official Documentation: https://docs.docker.com/engine/release-notes/
- endoflife.date: https://endoflife.date/docker-engine
- Moby GitHub Repository: https://github.com/moby/moby/releases
- Mirantis Support Policy: https://docs.mirantis.com/mcr/25.0/compat-matrix/mcr-25.0-compatibility-matrix.html
Docker Engine is supported by the Moby Community, and the complete list of supported releases is documented in the GitHub BRANCHES-AND-TAGS.md file. Through regular monitoring and planned upgrades, you can maintain a secure and efficient container environment.