PHP import_request_variables() vs extract()

if you want to run old code that relies on register_globals temporarily,
make sure you use one of the non-overwriting extract_type values such
as EXTR_SKIP and be aware that you should extract in the same order
that's defined in variables_order within the php.ini

Infact extract() has a EXTR_SKIP flag that implement this bhreaviuw:
If there is a collision, don't overwrite the existing variable.


Using extract() with EXTR_SKIP will give you something like GLOBALS ON
that is safe if compared with what happens using extract($_GET); or
import_request_variables('G');

--- >8 --- >8 --- >8 --- >8 --- test1.php --- >8 --- >8 --- >8 --- >8

<?php
extract($_GET);
print_r($_SERVER);
?>

--- >8 --- >8 --- >8 --- >8 --- --------- --- >8 --- >8 --- >8 --- >8

Demo: test1.php?SERVER=abc
Expected result: the _SERVER array will became a string

The morale is that while an insecure usage of extract() by a developer
could be his fault there is no secure usage of
import_request_variables() and this is surely a PHP fault.