What is the issue with passing URL variables in PHP scripts?

Passing URL variables directly in PHP scripts can pose a security risk as it leaves the application vulnerable to SQL injection attacks. To prevent this, it is recommended to sanitize and validate any user input received from URL variables before using it in database queries or other sensitive operations.

// Sanitize and validate URL variables
$id = isset($_GET['id']) ? filter_var($_GET['id'], FILTER_SANITIZE_NUMBER_INT) : null;

// Use the sanitized variable in database query
if ($id) {
    $query = "SELECT * FROM table WHERE id = :id";
    // Execute query using prepared statements
}