[BUG]: Azure App Service deploy started failing with error "A '-dest' argument must be specified with the 'sync' verb. Error count: 1."

[ninjadev118]

Task name

Deploy Azure App Service

Task version

4.230.7

Environment type (Please select at least one enviroment where you face this issue)

• Self-Hosted
• Microsoft Hosted
• VMSS Pool
• Container

Azure DevOps Server type

dev.azure.com (formerly visualstudio.com)

Azure DevOps Server Version (if applicable)

No response

Operation system

Windows

Task log

2023-11-06T22:17:18.7364356Z [command]"C:\Program Files\IIS\Microsoft Web Deploy V3\msdeploy.exe" -verb:sync -source:package='D:\c\r2\b\test1 & test2 artifacts\drop\test2_888.zip' -dest:contentPath='azureWebDev',ComputerName='https://mycomputername.net',UserName='$myUsername',Password='***',AuthType='Basic' -enableRule:AppOffline -userAgent:VSTS_sd1324dc-7762-4e41-8aa2-b2abcde_Release__1234_5678_9
2023-11-06T22:17:18.7364356Z [command]"C:\Program Files\IIS\Microsoft Web Deploy V3\msdeploy.exe" -verb:sync -source:package='D:\c\r2\b\test1 & test2 artifacts\drop\test2_888.zip' -dest:contentPath='azureWebDev',ComputerName='https://mycomputername.net',UserName='$myUsername',Password='***',AuthType='Basic' -enableRule:AppOffline -userAgent:VSTS_sd1324dc-7762-4e41-8aa2-b2abcde_Release__1234_5678_9
2023-11-06T22:17:18.7364356Z [command]"C:\Program Files\IIS\Microsoft Web Deploy V3\msdeploy.exe" -verb:sync -source:package='D:\c\r2\b\test1 & test2 artifacts\drop\test2_888.zip' -dest:contentPath='azureWebDev',ComputerName='https://mycomputername.net',UserName='$myUsername',Password='***',AuthType='Basic' -enableRule:AppOffline -userAgent:VSTS_sd1324dc-7762-4e41-8aa2-b2abcde_Release__1234_5678_9
2023-11-06T22:17:18.9042826Z ##[error]Error: Error: A '-dest' argument must be specified with the 'sync' verb.
Error count: 1.
'test2' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

Relevant log output

2023-11-06T22:17:18.9042826Z ##[error]Error: Error: A '-dest' argument must be specified with the 'sync' verb.
Error count: 1.
'test2' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

Aditional info

As far as I can tell, no changes were made to the release pipeline or the pipeline itself. I have tried removing all spaces in source alias ("test1 & test2 artifacts" to "test1&test2artifacts") as per a related error in this post but the -dest argument error still comes up.

The last time the pipeline released went through successfully was on task version 4.229.0. Not sure if applicable but can I specify the exact version of 4.xx to use? Any help appreciated, thank you.

[ninjadev118]

Accidentally added some context in the "Aditional info" section. Apologize for any confusion in formatting.

[TrevorFourie]

I am getting the same since yesteday afternoon.

The only thing that seems to work is to remove any special characters like '&' from the Build Artifact Source Alias

[ninjadev118]

I am getting the same since yesteday afternoon.

The only thing that seems to work is to remove any special characters like '&' from the Build Artifact Source Alias

Did the trick for now, thanks

[NicoDvl]

I am getting the same error today with the version 4.230.7. I had no issue with the previous version 4.229.0.
Removing character & fix it. Thank you.
Two weeks ago i already had the same error and upgraded task from version v3 to v4 ....

[cloud-ik]

I have the same issue wit Hosted Agent, removing & from the source path fixed it

[fabiocannas]

Hello, I encountered the same error last night. Removing character '&' fixed it. Thank you.

[github-actions]

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