What are the security implications of using eval() and base64_decode() functions in PHP scripts?

Using eval() and base64_decode() functions in PHP scripts can introduce security vulnerabilities as they can execute arbitrary code or decode potentially malicious payloads. To mitigate these risks, it is recommended to avoid using these functions whenever possible and instead use safer alternatives to achieve the desired functionality.

// Example of avoiding eval() and base64_decode() functions
$encodedData = "cGF5bG9hZA=="; // Base64 encoded data
$decodedData = base64_decode($encodedData);
echo $decodedData;