How to fix Error: The terraform-provider-aws plugin crashed! in Terraform

First, identify which version of the AWS provider you're using. Run:

terraform version

Look for the AWS provider version in the output. Common problematic versions include v5.32.0, v6.0.0, v6.8.0, and v6.13.0.

Visit the HashiCorp Help Center and search for your specific provider version. The error message typically indicates which version you're running. Check if there's a known issue and recommended fix:

https://support.hashicorp.com/hc/en-us/articles/25111858689939

If your version is listed as having a known crash, move to step 3.

Update your Terraform configuration to use a stable provider version. In your main.tf or versions.tf, set a provider constraint:

terraform {
  required_providers {
    aws = {
      source  = "hashicorp/aws"
      version = "~> 5.31.0"  # Use a known stable version
    }
  }
}

Then run:

terraform init -upgrade
terraform plan

Alternatively, if you want the latest version, try:

terraform {
  required_providers {
    aws = {
      source  = "hashicorp/aws"
      version = ">= 5.32.1"  # Skip the buggy v5.32.0
    }
  }
}

Clear the Terraform cache to ensure the new provider version is downloaded:

rm -rf .terraform
terraform init

Then run a plan to see if the crash persists:

terraform plan

If the crash continues, examine the stack trace in the error output to identify which resource is causing it. Common culprits include:

- aws_s3_bucket and aws_s3_object (with v6.13.0)
- aws_s3tables_table and aws_s3tables_table_bucket (with v6.0.0, v6.8.0)
- aws_lb_target_group, aws_subnet, aws_security_group
- aws_cognito_user_pool, aws_dynamodb_table_item

Note which resource(s) are mentioned in the stack trace.

If the crash only occurs during terraform destroy, try this workaround:

1. Comment out or remove the resource causing the crash from your Terraform configuration
2. Run terraform init (to re-detect resources)
3. Run terraform plan and terraform apply (to delete the offending resource)
4. Then proceed with destroying the rest of your infrastructure:

terraform destroy

If none of the above steps resolve the crash, or if your version is not listed as having a known bug, report it to the Terraform AWS provider repository:

https://github.com/hashicorp/terraform-provider-aws/issues

Include:
- Your Terraform version (terraform version)
- Your AWS provider version
- The exact error message and stack trace
- The Terraform configuration snippet that triggers the crash
- Your operating system and architecture

This helps HashiCorp identify and fix the bug faster.