import re


def match(pattern, target):
    """Match a string exactly against a pattern, where the pattern is a regex
    with '*' as the only active character.

    Args:
        pattern (str): Pattern.
        target (str): Target.

    bool: `True` if `pattern` matches `target`.
    """
    pattern = "".join(".*" if c == "*" else re.escape(c) for c in pattern)
    return bool(re.match("^" + pattern + "$", target))