how to using code like recursive CTE before 8.0?

i want to use recursive code in mysql but the server doens't support it

so plz give me some advice

this is my recursive query

mysql(Recursive)

WITH RECURSIVE CTE AS
(SELECT ssn, superssn, 0 as depth from 
EMPLOYEE where ssn='888665555' 
UNION ALL 
SELECT A.SSN, A.SUPERSSN, depth + 1 FROM 
EMPLOYEE A INNER JOIN CTE WHERE A.SUPERSSN 
= CTE.SSN ) 
SELECT * FROM CTE;

i try this

mysql> select ssn,superssn
from(select * from EMPLOYEE order by superssn,ssn) EMPLOYEE_sorted, 
(select @pv := '888665555') initialisation where find_in_set(superssn, @pv) 
and length(@pv := concat(@pv,',',ssn));

the result

+-----------+-----------+

| ssn       | superssn  |

+-----------+-----------+

| 333445555 | 888665555 |

| 987654321 | 888665555 |

| 987987987 | 987654321 |

| 999887777 | 987654321 |

| 000000001 | 999887777 |

+-----------+-----------+

but the correct result is

+-----------+-----------+

| ssn       | superssn  |

+-----------+-----------+

| 000000001 | 999887777 |

| 000000002 | 000000001 |

| 000000003 | 000000002 |

| 000000004 | 000000003 |

| 000000005 | 000000004 |

| 000000006 | 000000005 |

| 123456789 | 333445555 |

| 333445555 | 888665555 |

| 453453453 | 333445555 |

| 666884444 | 333445555 |

| 987654321 | 888665555 |

| 987987987 | 987654321 |

| 999887777 | 987654321 |

+-----------+-----------+

data table select ssn, superssn from EMPLOYEE;

+-----------+-----------+
| ssn       | superssn  |
+-----------+-----------+
| 888665555 | NULL      |
| 000000002 | 000000001 |
| 000000003 | 000000002 |
| 000000004 | 000000003 |
| 000000005 | 000000004 |
| 000000006 | 000000005 |
| 123456789 | 333445555 |
| 453453453 | 333445555 |
| 666884444 | 333445555 |
| 333445555 | 888665555 |
| 987654321 | 888665555 |
| 987987987 | 987654321 |
| 999887777 | 987654321 |
| 000000001 | 999887777 |
+-----------+-----------+

this is data table you can use reference could someone give advice how can i change it?! thanks