5.4.4.4 Logging Format for Changes to mysql Database Tables

The contents of the grant tables in the mysql database can be modified directly (for example, with INSERT or DELETE) or indirectly (for example, with GRANT or CREATE USER). Statements that affect mysql database tables are written to the binary log using the following rules:

Data manipulation statements that change data in mysql database tables directly are logged according to the setting of the binlog_format system variable. This pertains to statements such as INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, REPLACE, DO, LOAD DATA, SELECT, and TRUNCATE TABLE.
Statements that change the mysql database indirectly are logged as statements regardless of the value of binlog_format. This pertains to statements such as GRANT, REVOKE, SET PASSWORD, RENAME USER, CREATE (all forms except CREATE TABLE ... SELECT), ALTER (all forms), and DROP (all forms).

CREATE TABLE ... SELECT is a combination of data definition and data manipulation. The CREATE TABLE part is logged using statement format and the SELECT part is logged according to the value of binlog_format.