diff --git a/src/main/java/io/shiftleft/controller/AdminController.java b/src/main/java/io/shiftleft/controller/AdminController.java
index 296c26573..3b0c295d7 100644
--- a/src/main/java/io/shiftleft/controller/AdminController.java
+++ b/src/main/java/io/shiftleft/controller/AdminController.java
@@ -28,17 +28,20 @@ public class AdminController {
   private String fail = "redirect:/";
 
   // helper
-  private boolean isAdmin(String auth)
-  {
+private boolean isAdmin(String auth) {
     try {
-      ByteArrayInputStream bis = new ByteArrayInputStream(Base64.getDecoder().decode(auth));
-      ObjectInputStream objectInputStream = new ObjectInputStream(bis);
-      Object authToken = objectInputStream.readObject();
-      return ((AuthToken) authToken).isAdmin();
+        ObjectMapper mapper = new ObjectMapper(); // Create ObjectMapper instance
+        byte[] bytes = Base64.getDecoder().decode(auth);
+        AuthToken authToken = mapper.readValue(bytes, AuthToken.class); // Use ObjectMapper to deserialize
+        
+        return authToken.isAdmin();
     } catch (Exception ex) {
-      System.out.println(" cookie cannot be deserialized: "+ex.getMessage());
-      return false;
+        String sanitizedMessage = Strings.abbreviateMiddle(ex.getMessage(), "...", 50); // Sanitize log message
+        System.out.println("Cookie cannot be deserialized: " + sanitizedMessage);
+        return false;
     }
+}
+
   }
 
   //
diff --git a/src/main/java/io/shiftleft/controller/SearchController.java b/src/main/java/io/shiftleft/controller/SearchController.java
index faa409760..d056228ea 100644
--- a/src/main/java/io/shiftleft/controller/SearchController.java
+++ b/src/main/java/io/shiftleft/controller/SearchController.java
@@ -17,16 +17,26 @@
 @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) {
+    String message = "";
     try {
-      ExpressionParser parser = new SpelExpressionParser();
-      Expression exp = parser.parseExpression(foo);
-      message = (Object) exp.getValue();
+        // Use method parameters or context properties instead of directly evaluating user input
+        message = getSafeMessage(foo);
     } catch (Exception ex) {
-      System.out.println(ex.getMessage());
+        // Log the exception message instead of printing it to the console
+        logger.error(ex.getMessage());
     }
+    return message;
+}
+
+private String getSafeMessage(String safeInput) {
+    // Implement logic to return a safe message based on the safeInput
+    // This could involve checking the input against a whitelist of allowed values
+    // and returning a default message if the input is not valid
+    return safeInput; // Placeholder implementation
+}
+
     return message.toString();
   }
 }