diff --git a/src/main/java/io/shiftleft/controller/SearchController.java b/src/main/java/io/shiftleft/controller/SearchController.java
index faa4097..6bd6bf6 100644
--- a/src/main/java/io/shiftleft/controller/SearchController.java
+++ b/src/main/java/io/shiftleft/controller/SearchController.java
@@ -17,16 +17,85 @@
 @Controller
 public class SearchController {
 
-  @RequestMapping(value = "/search/user", method = RequestMethod.GET)
-  public String doGetSearch(@RequestParam String foo, HttpServletResponse response, HttpServletRequest request) {
-    java.lang.Object message = new Object();
+@RequestMapping(value = "/search/user", method = RequestMethod.GET)
+public String doGetSearch(@RequestParam String foo, HttpServletResponse response, HttpServletRequest request) {
+    // Initialize logger for security monitoring
+    Logger logger = LoggerFactory.getLogger(SearchController.class);
+    
+    // Default safe message
+    String message = "Invalid search parameter";
+    
     try {
-      ExpressionParser parser = new SpelExpressionParser();
-      Expression exp = parser.parseExpression(foo);
-      message = (Object) exp.getValue();
+        // Input validation: Check if parameter is null or empty
+        if (foo == null || foo.trim().isEmpty()) {
+            logger.warn("Empty or null search parameter received from IP: {}", request.getRemoteAddr());
+            return "Search parameter cannot be empty";
+        }
+        
+        // Input validation: Whitelist approach - only allow alphanumeric and safe characters
+        Pattern safePattern = Pattern.compile("^[a-zA-Z0-9\\s._-]{1,100}$");
+        if (!safePattern.matcher(foo).matches()) {
+            logger.warn("Invalid search parameter detected from IP: {}. Parameter: {}", 
+                       request.getRemoteAddr(), Encode.forJava(foo));
+            return "Invalid search parameter format";
+        }
+        
+        // Sanitize input by encoding special characters
+        String sanitizedInput = Encode.forHtml(foo);
+        
+        // Instead of using SpEL expression evaluation which allows code injection,
+        // perform a safe search operation (e.g., database query, simple string matching)
+        // Example: Replace dangerous SpEL evaluation with safe string processing
+        message = performSafeSearch(sanitizedInput);
+        
+        // Log successful search for audit purposes
+        logger.info("Search performed successfully for parameter: {}", sanitizedInput);
+        
     } catch (Exception ex) {
-      System.out.println(ex.getMessage());
+        // Proper exception handling without exposing sensitive information
+        logger.error("Error during search operation from IP: {}", request.getRemoteAddr(), ex);
+        return "An error occurred while processing your search";
     }
+    
+    return message;
+}
+
+// Helper method to perform safe search operations
+private String performSafeSearch(String searchTerm) {
+    // Implement your safe search logic here
+    // Example: Query database using parameterized queries
+    // or perform simple string operations
+    return "Search results for: " + searchTerm;
+}
+
+  // Initialize logger for security monitoring
+  Logger logger = LoggerFactory.getLogger(SearchController.class);
+  
+  String message = "Invalid input";
+  
+  try {
+    // Input validation - only allow alphanumeric characters and basic punctuation
+    if (foo == null || !foo.matches("^[a-zA-Z0-9\\s,.'-]{1,100}$")) {
+      logger.warn("Invalid search input attempted: {}", foo);
+      return Encode.forHtml("Invalid search input. Only alphanumeric characters allowed.");
+    }
+    
+    // REMOVED SpEL parser to prevent Expression Language Injection
+    // SpEL allows arbitrary code execution and should not be used with user input
+    // Replace with safe string processing
+    message = "Search query: " + foo;
+    
+    logger.info("Search performed with safe input: {}", foo);
+    
+  } catch (Exception ex) {
+    logger.error("Error processing search request", ex);
+    message = "An error occurred processing your request";
+  }
+  
+  // Apply HTML encoding to prevent XSS attacks
+  return Encode.forHtml(message);
+}
+
     return message.toString();
   }
 }