How can the use of variables like $datum potentially impact PHP code execution?

Using variables like $datum without proper validation can potentially lead to code execution vulnerabilities such as SQL injection or cross-site scripting attacks. To mitigate this risk, it is essential to sanitize and validate user input before using it in your PHP code.

$datum = $_POST['datum']; // Assuming $datum is user input

// Sanitize and validate $datum before using it in the code
$clean_datum = filter_var($datum, FILTER_SANITIZE_STRING);