Amazon ECS Service Steps fails with 'Container.image contains invalid characters' if using a container definition image package ID defined as a variable.

[Clare-Octopus]

Severity

Blocking customers deploying to ECS if you have the container definition image with a packageID defined as a variable, workaround exists.

Version

2026.2.11000

Latest Version

I could reproduce the problem in the latest build

What happened?

Using an ECS Step in Octopus -

If you have a packageID as a variable, Octopus is not evaluating it correctly and therefore generates the error below when trying to deploy:

Amazon.ECS.Model.ClientException: Container.image contains invalid characters.

Hardcoding the packageID or chosing it from the dropdown menu results in the deployment succeeding:

Reproduction

1. Have a project with an Update Amazon ECS Service step.
2. Use a container definition with a container image from a feed with a package name defined as a variable.
3. Save the step, create the release and deploy it.
4. See the error.
5. Go back to the step and hardcode the packageID in, create a release and deploy, see the ECS service update.

Error and Stacktrace

Amazon.ECS.Model.ClientException: Container.image contains invalid characters. 
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       ---> Amazon.Runtime.Internal.HttpErrorResponseException: Exception of type 'Amazon.Runtime.Internal.HttpErrorResponseException' was thrown.
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.HttpWebRequestMessage.ProcessHttpResponseMessage(HttpResponseMessage responseMessage)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.HttpWebRequestMessage.GetResponseAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.HttpHandler`1.InvokeAsync[T](IExecutionContext executionContext)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.Unmarshaller.InvokeAsync[T](IExecutionContext executionContext)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.ErrorHandler.InvokeAsync[T](IExecutionContext executionContext)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.HttpErrorResponseExceptionHandler.HandleExceptionStream(IRequestContext requestContext, IWebResponseData httpErrorResponse, HttpErrorResponseException exception, Stream responseStream)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.HttpErrorResponseExceptionHandler.HandleExceptionAsync(IExecutionContext executionContext, HttpErrorResponseException exception)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.ExceptionHandler`1.HandleAsync(IExecutionContext executionContext, Exception exception)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.ErrorHandler.ProcessExceptionAsync(IExecutionContext executionContext, Exception exception)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.ErrorHandler.InvokeAsync[T](IExecutionContext executionContext)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.CallbackHandler.InvokeAsync[T](IExecutionContext executionContext)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.Signer.InvokeAsync[T](IExecutionContext executionContext)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.EndpointDiscoveryHandler.InvokeAsync[T](IExecutionContext executionContext)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.EndpointDiscoveryHandler.InvokeAsync[T](IExecutionContext executionContext)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.RetryHandler.InvokeAsync[T](IExecutionContext executionContext)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.RetryHandler.InvokeAsync[T](IExecutionContext executionContext)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.CallbackHandler.InvokeAsync[T](IExecutionContext executionContext)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.BaseAuthResolverHandler.InvokeAsync[T](IExecutionContext executionContext)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.CallbackHandler.InvokeAsync[T](IExecutionContext executionContext)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.ErrorCallbackHandler.InvokeAsync[T](IExecutionContext executionContext)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.MetricsHandler.InvokeAsync[T](IExecutionContext executionContext)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Calamari.Aws.Deployment.Conventions.UpdateEcsServiceConvention.InstallAsync(RunningDeployment deployment) in C:\BuildAgent\work\62728692c7c35200\source\Calamari.Aws\Deployment\Conventions\UpdateEcsServiceConvention.cs:line 71
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Calamari.Aws.Deployment.Conventions.UpdateEcsServiceConvention.Install(RunningDeployment deployment) in C:\BuildAgent\work\62728692c7c35200\source\Calamari.Aws\Deployment\Conventions\UpdateEcsServiceConvention.cs:line 35
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Calamari.Deployment.ConventionProcessor.RunInstallConventions(IEnumerable`1 installConventions) in C:\BuildAgent\work\62728692c7c35200\source\Calamari.Shared\Deployment\ConventionProcessor.cs:line 80
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Calamari.Deployment.ConventionProcessor.RunConventions(Boolean logExceptions) in C:\BuildAgent\work\62728692c7c35200\source\Calamari.Shared\Deployment\ConventionProcessor.cs:line 31
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       Container.image contains invalid characters.
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       Amazon.ECS.Model.ClientException
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.HttpErrorResponseExceptionHandler.HandleExceptionStream(IRequestContext requestContext, IWebResponseData httpErrorResponse, HttpErrorResponseException exception, Stream responseStream)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.HttpErrorResponseExceptionHandler.HandleExceptionAsync(IExecutionContext executionContext, HttpErrorResponseException exception)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.ExceptionHandler`1.HandleAsync(IExecutionContext executionContext, Exception exception)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.ErrorHandler.ProcessExceptionAsync(IExecutionContext executionContext, Exception exception)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.ErrorHandler.InvokeAsync[T](IExecutionContext executionContext)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.CallbackHandler.InvokeAsync[T](IExecutionContext executionContext)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.Signer.InvokeAsync[T](IExecutionContext executionContext)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.EndpointDiscoveryHandler.InvokeAsync[T](IExecutionContext executionContext)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.EndpointDiscoveryHandler.InvokeAsync[T](IExecutionContext executionContext)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.RetryHandler.InvokeAsync[T](IExecutionContext executionContext)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.RetryHandler.InvokeAsync[T](IExecutionContext executionContext)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.CallbackHandler.InvokeAsync[T](IExecutionContext executionContext)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.BaseAuthResolverHandler.InvokeAsync[T](IExecutionContext executionContext)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.CallbackHandler.InvokeAsync[T](IExecutionContext executionContext)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.ErrorCallbackHandler.InvokeAsync[T](IExecutionContext executionContext)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.MetricsHandler.InvokeAsync[T](IExecutionContext executionContext)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Calamari.Aws.Deployment.Conventions.UpdateEcsServiceConvention.InstallAsync(RunningDeployment deployment) in C:\BuildAgent\work\62728692c7c35200\source\Calamari.Aws\Deployment\Conventions\UpdateEcsServiceConvention.cs:line 71
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Calamari.Aws.Deployment.Conventions.UpdateEcsServiceConvention.Install(RunningDeployment deployment) in C:\BuildAgent\work\62728692c7c35200\source\Calamari.Aws\Deployment\Conventions\UpdateEcsServiceConvention.cs:line 35
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Calamari.Deployment.ConventionProcessor.RunInstallConventions(IEnumerable`1 installConventions) in C:\BuildAgent\work\62728692c7c35200\source\Calamari.Shared\Deployment\ConventionProcessor.cs:line 80
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Calamari.Deployment.ConventionProcessor.RunConventions(Boolean logExceptions) in C:\BuildAgent\work\62728692c7c35200\source\Calamari.Shared\Deployment\ConventionProcessor.cs:line 31
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Calamari.Aws.Commands.UpdateEcsServiceCommand.Execute(String[] commandLineArguments) in C:\BuildAgent\work\62728692c7c35200\source\Calamari.Aws\Commands\UpdateEcsServiceCommand.cs:line 37
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Calamari.Program.ResolveAndExecuteCommand(IContainer container, CommonOptions options) in C:\BuildAgent\work\62728692c7c35200\source\Calamari\Program.cs:line 86
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Calamari.Common.CalamariFlavourProgram.Run(String[] args) in C:\BuildAgent\work\62728692c7c35200\source\Calamari.Common\CalamariFlavourProgram.cs:line 76
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       --Inner Exception--
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       Exception of type 'Amazon.Runtime.Internal.HttpErrorResponseException' was thrown.
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       Amazon.Runtime.Internal.HttpErrorResponseException
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.HttpWebRequestMessage.ProcessHttpResponseMessage(HttpResponseMessage responseMessage)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.HttpWebRequestMessage.GetResponseAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.HttpHandler`1.InvokeAsync[T](IExecutionContext executionContext)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.Unmarshaller.InvokeAsync[T](IExecutionContext executionContext)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:49 +01:00  Error       at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.ErrorHandler.InvokeAsync[T](IExecutionContext executionContext)
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:50 +01:00  Fatal       The remote script failed with exit code 100
Wed, May 20th 2026 10:01:50 +01:00  Fatal       The action Update Amazon ECS Service on ECS Target failed

More Information

Initial Customer Ticket (Internal) - https://octopuscd.zendesk.com/agent/tickets/205116
RnD (Internal) - https://octopusdeploy.slack.com/archives/CNHBHV2BX/p1779268608337719
Reproduction (Internal) - https://octopus-operations.octopus.app/app#/Spaces-422/projects/aws-ecs/deployments/releases/0.0.29/deployments/Deployments-114715

Workaround

Hardcoding the packageID or choosing it from the dropdown menu results in the deployment succeeding:

[Clare-Octopus]

One of our engineers was online late and mentioned that this has been mitigated. The mitigation involves an upgrade to Octopus version 2026.2.11037 or later (for Octopus Cloud customers at the time of writing this comment).

We then need to exclude your instance from a feature toggle. No downtime is required for the feature toggle exclusion.

Please email support@octopus.com with a link to this GitHub issue and confirm whether you would like to be upgraded in your next maintenance window (no downtime required) or right away (about 20 minutes of downtime required). We can then facilitate that for you.

If you are already on 2026.2.11037 or later and are still seeing this issue, please also email support@octopus.com, and we can exclude you from the feature toggle, no upgrade would be required in this scenario.

Kind Regards,
Clare