What potential issues can arise when using $_GET variables in PHP scripts, especially when dealing with server configurations and PHP versions?

When using $_GET variables in PHP scripts, potential security vulnerabilities can arise if the input is not properly sanitized or validated. This can lead to SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and other types of attacks. To mitigate these risks, always sanitize and validate user input before using it in your PHP scripts.

// Sanitize and validate $_GET input before using it
$userId = isset($_GET['id']) ? filter_var($_GET['id'], FILTER_SANITIZE_NUMBER_INT) : null;

if ($userId !== null) {
    // Proceed with using the sanitized $userId in your script
    // Example: $user = getUserById($userId);
} else {
    // Handle invalid input or display an error message
    echo "Invalid user ID";
}