CSP Score Calculator
Measure the security strength of your Content Security Policy (CSP) header.
Defines the fallback for other fetch directives.
Controls which scripts can execute on your page.
Restricts plugins like Flash or Java applets.
Total CSP Security Score
High
Strict
Comprehensive
Score Breakdown by Category
Chart showing relative strength in key CSP categories.
| Directive | Current Setting | Risk Impact | Weight |
|---|
What is a CSP Score Calculator?
A csp score calculator is an essential tool for web developers and cybersecurity professionals to evaluate the robustness of a website’s Content Security Policy. CSP is an added layer of security that helps detect and mitigate certain types of attacks, including Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) and data injection attacks. By using a csp score calculator, you can quantitatively measure how well your headers protect your users from malicious code execution.
Who should use a csp score calculator? Anyone managing a web application, from small blogs to enterprise-level platforms. A common misconception is that simply having a CSP header is enough. In reality, a poorly configured CSP—one that allows ‘unsafe-inline’ or uses wide-open wildcards—provides almost no security benefit. This calculator helps identify those gaps.
CSP Score Calculator Formula and Mathematical Explanation
The mathematical model behind our csp score calculator is based on a weighted additive scoring system. Each directive is assigned a base value which is then adjusted based on its configuration string.
The core formula used is:
| Variable | Meaning | Unit | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| ScriptWeight | The importance of script-src | Points | 30 – 45 |
| DefaultWeight | The importance of default-src | Points | 15 – 25 |
| ObjectWeight | Restriction of plugins | Points | 10 – 20 |
| FlagBonus | Points for specific keywords | Points | 5 – 15 |
Practical Examples (Real-World Use Cases)
Example 1: High-Security Banking Application
A bank uses a strict CSP. They set default-src 'none', script-src 'nonce-random123', and frame-ancestors 'self'. When these values are entered into the csp score calculator, the resulting score is 100/100. This indicates that even if an attacker manages to inject a script tag, it will not execute because it lacks the valid nonce.
Example 2: Legacy Blog Site
A blog uses many third-party plugins and inline scripts. Their CSP is script-src * 'unsafe-inline'. The csp score calculator processes this and returns a score of 15/100. This low score warns the developer that their CSP is “functionally useless” against XSS because the ‘unsafe-inline’ flag permits the very attacks CSP is designed to stop.
How to Use This CSP Score Calculator
- Select your Default-Src: Start with the fallback policy. ‘none’ is best practice.
- Define Script-Src: Choose the option that most closely matches your policy. Strict policies use nonces or hashes.
- Restrict Objects: Unless you use Flash or Silverlight (rare today), set this to ‘none’.
- Toggle Security Flags: Check the boxes if your policy blocks ‘unsafe-inline’ and ‘unsafe-eval’.
- Analyze the Results: Review the csp score calculator total and the category breakdown chart.
- Improve your Score: If your score is below 70, consider moving away from inline scripts to achieve a more secure environment.
Key Factors That Affect CSP Score Calculator Results
1. Source Restrictions: The more specific your sources, the higher the score. Avoid using * or https: as sources.
2. Inline Execution: ‘unsafe-inline’ is the biggest score killer. Modern web security relies on separating logic (JS) from structure (HTML).
3. Dynamic Evaluation: Using eval() is often a security risk. Blocking ‘unsafe-eval’ significantly boosts your csp score calculator result.
4. Plugin Control: object-src should be restricted to prevent attackers from loading malicious Java or Flash objects that bypass standard script protections.
5. Clickjacking Protection: While technically part of CSP level 2/3, frame-ancestors is vital for ensuring your site cannot be embedded in malicious iframes.
6. Protocol Enforcement: Using upgrade-insecure-requests ensures that all assets are loaded over HTTPS, preventing man-in-the-middle downgrades.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is a “good” score in the csp score calculator?
A score above 85 is considered excellent. Scores between 60 and 85 are good but have room for improvement. Anything below 50 indicates significant vulnerabilities.
2. Does a 100/100 score mean my site is unhackable?
No. A csp score calculator measures the strength of one specific defense layer. You still need to worry about server-side vulnerabilities, CSRF, and logic flaws.
3. Why does ‘unsafe-inline’ lower my score so much?
Because most XSS attacks rely on injecting inline scripts. If you allow ‘unsafe-inline’, you effectively disable the primary protection CSP offers.
4. Can I use this calculator for CSP Level 3?
Yes, the csp score calculator accounts for Level 3 features like strict-dynamic and hashes within the Script-Src options.
5. Is ‘self’ better than ‘none’ for default-src?
‘none’ is technically more secure as it forces you to explicitly define every single source for every type of resource.
6. How often should I check my csp score calculator result?
You should re-evaluate your score whenever you add new third-party scripts, analytics tools, or change your site’s architecture.
7. Does CSP affect SEO?
Indirectly, yes. Search engines prefer secure sites. A high score in a csp score calculator contributes to a better overall security posture, which is a trust signal.
8. What is the frame-ancestors directive?
It replaces the X-Frame-Options header and controls which parent pages can embed your site in an iframe, preventing clickjacking.
Related Tools and Internal Resources
- CSP Validator – Validate your raw header string against browser standards.
- Security Headers Check – A comprehensive audit of all HTTP security headers.
- CSP Generator – Create a custom policy based on your site’s specific needs.
- XSS Protection Tool – Specialized tools to identify Cross-Site Scripting entry points.
- Web Security Audit – Professional assessment services for modern web applications.
- CSP Policy Tester – Test your policy in a sandbox environment before deployment.