What is the difference between CSP and Same-Origin Policy?

What is the difference between CSP and Same-Origin Policy?

CSP, or Content Security Policy, is a security feature that helps prevent various attacks like Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) by controlling which resources can be loaded on a web page. The Same-Origin Policy, on the other hand, is a security measure that restricts how a document or script loaded from one origin can interact with resources from another origin.

Can you give me an example of how CSP works?

Sure! For instance, if a website sets a CSP header that only allows scripts from its own domain, any attempt to load a script from an external source will be blocked. This helps mitigate the risk of malicious scripts being executed.

How does the Same-Origin Policy affect web applications?

The Same-Origin Policy restricts web applications from making requests to a different origin than the one that served the web page. This means that if your web app is hosted on 'example.com', it cannot access resources from 'anotherdomain.com' unless specific measures like CORS are implemented.

Are there any limitations to using CSP?

Yes, while CSP is powerful, it can be complex to implement correctly. Misconfigurations can lead to blocking legitimate resources, and it requires ongoing maintenance as your application evolves.