localstack · MEPalma · Apr 2, 2025 · Mar 11, 2025 · Apr 1, 2025 · Apr 1, 2025
diff --git a/localstack-core/localstack/services/stepfunctions/asl/utils/json_path.py b/localstack-core/localstack/services/stepfunctions/asl/utils/json_path.py
@@ -7,13 +7,20 @@
 from localstack.services.events.utils import to_json_str
 
 _PATTERN_SINGLETON_ARRAY_ACCESS_OUTPUT: Final[str] = r"\[\d+\]$"
+_PATTERN_SLICE_OR_WILDCARD_ACCESS = r"\$(?:\.[^[]+\[(?:\*|\d*:\d*)\]|\[\*\])(?:\.[^[]+)*$"
 
 
 def _is_singleton_array_access(path: str) -> bool:
     # Returns true if the json path terminates with a literal singleton array access.
     return bool(re.search(_PATTERN_SINGLETON_ARRAY_ACCESS_OUTPUT, path))
 
 
+def _contains_slice_or_wildcard_array(path: str) -> bool:
+    # Returns true if the json path contains a slice or wildcard in the array.
+    # Slices at the root are discarded, but wildcard at the root is allowed.
+    return bool(re.search(_PATTERN_SLICE_OR_WILDCARD_ACCESS, path))
+
+
 class NoSuchJsonPathError(Exception):
     json_path: Final[str]
     data: Final[Any]
@@ -42,6 +49,8 @@ def extract_json(path: str, data: Any) -> Any:
 
     matches = input_expr.find(data)
     if not matches:
+        if _contains_slice_or_wildcard_array(path):
+            return []
         raise NoSuchJsonPathError(json_path=path, data=data)
 
     if len(matches) > 1 or isinstance(matches[0].path, Index):

diff --git a/tests/aws/services/stepfunctions/v2/base/test_base.py b/tests/aws/services/stepfunctions/v2/base/test_base.py
@@ -427,3 +427,45 @@ def test_json_path_array_access(
             definition,
             exec_input,
         )
+
+    # These json_path_strings are handled gracefully in AWS by returning an empty array,
+    #   although there are some exceptions like  "$[1:5]", "$[1:], "$[:1]
+    @markers.aws.validated
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        "json_path_string",
+        [
+            "$[*]",
+            "$.items[*]",
+            "$.items[1:]",
+            "$.items[:1]",
+            "$.item.items[*]",
+            "$.item.items[1:]",
+            "$.item.items[:1]",
+            "$.item.items[1:5]",
+            "$.items[*].itemValue",
+            "$.items[1:].itemValue",
+            "$.items[:1].itemValue",
+            "$.item.items[1:5].itemValue",
+        ],
+    )
+    def test_json_path_array_wildcard_or_slice_with_no_input(
+        self,
+        aws_client,
+        create_state_machine_iam_role,
+        create_state_machine,
+        sfn_snapshot,
+        json_path_string,
+    ):
+        template = BaseTemplate.load_sfn_template(BaseTemplate.JSON_PATH_ARRAY_ACCESS)
+        template["States"]["EntryState"]["Parameters"]["item.$"] = json_path_string
+        definition = json.dumps(template)
+
+        exec_input = json.dumps({})
+        create_and_record_execution(
+            aws_client,
+            create_state_machine_iam_role,
+            create_state_machine,
+            sfn_snapshot,
+            definition,
+            exec_input,
+        )