CVE-2025-54604 identifies an uncontrolled resource consumption vulnerability in Bitcoin Core versions through 29.0. Bitcoin Core is the reference implementation of the Bitcoin protocol and is widely used to run full nodes that validate and relay transactions on the Bitcoin network. The vulnerability allows an attacker to cause excessive consumption of system resources such as CPU cycles, memory, or disk I/O, which can degrade or disrupt node operations. This type of vulnerability is commonly associated with denial of service (DoS) attacks, where the attacker overwhelms the target system to make it unavailable to legitimate users. Although the exact attack vector is not detailed, uncontrolled resource consumption typically arises from insufficient input validation, lack of rate limiting, or inefficient processing loops triggered by crafted network messages or transaction data. No authentication or user interaction is likely required, as Bitcoin nodes accept network connections from peers. The vulnerability was reserved in July 2025 and published in October 2025, with no known exploits reported yet and no CVSS score assigned. Bitcoin Core nodes are critical infrastructure for the Bitcoin network, and their disruption can impact transaction validation and network consensus. The absence of patch links indicates that fixes may be forthcoming or under development. Organizations relying on Bitcoin Core nodes should be aware of this vulnerability and prepare to implement mitigations promptly.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-54604 could be significant, particularly for entities operating Bitcoin Core nodes such as cryptocurrency exchanges, financial institutions, blockchain infrastructure providers, and research organizations. Uncontrolled resource consumption can lead to node crashes, degraded performance, or complete denial of service, affecting transaction processing and network reliability. This disruption could undermine trust in cryptocurrency services and cause financial losses due to downtime or delayed transaction confirmations. Additionally, widespread exploitation could destabilize the Bitcoin network segment operated within Europe, impacting broader blockchain ecosystem services. The impact on confidentiality and integrity is minimal since the vulnerability primarily affects availability. However, availability is critical for maintaining continuous blockchain operations and preventing network forks or transaction delays. The threat is more pronounced in environments with limited resource capacity or inadequate monitoring. Given Europe's growing adoption of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies, the vulnerability poses a tangible risk to operational continuity and service quality.

To mitigate CVE-2025-54604, European organizations should implement the following specific measures: 1) Monitor Bitcoin Core node resource usage closely, including CPU, memory, and disk I/O metrics, to detect abnormal spikes indicative of exploitation attempts. 2) Apply patches or updates from Bitcoin Core maintainers as soon as they become available to address the vulnerability directly. 3) Implement network-level rate limiting and connection filtering to restrict the number of incoming peer connections and limit the rate of requests or transactions processed, reducing the attack surface. 4) Use firewall rules and intrusion detection/prevention systems to identify and block suspicious traffic patterns targeting Bitcoin nodes. 5) Deploy redundant node infrastructure and load balancing to maintain service availability even if some nodes are affected. 6) Conduct regular security audits and stress testing to evaluate node resilience against resource exhaustion attacks. 7) Engage with the Bitcoin Core community and security advisories to stay informed about emerging threats and mitigation strategies. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on proactive resource monitoring, network controls, and infrastructure resilience tailored to Bitcoin Core operations.