Neil Warnock’s side frustrated the Toffees for large parts in a game of few clear-cut chances, but the Bluebirds paid for offering such little threat going forward.
And in the end the pressure told as the Icelandic midfielder, 29, latched onto Theo Walcott’s parried shot to smash into an empty net after 59 minutes.
Everton were from their fluent best but will go into next week’s Merseyside derby at Anfield full of confidence – the ground of their biter rivals they have not won at since 1999.
Defeat leave the Bluebirds in the relegation zone, but Warnock will take heart from a stoic performance ahead of a set of friendly fixtures.
In a dire first-half neither in which neither keeper was tested, it was Everton and Richarlison who had the best chance.
Cardiff’s dogs of war at the back, led by man mountain Sol Bamba, kept the Toffees at bay for the most part despite ceding 74% of the ball in the opening 45.
The in-form Brazilian striker found himself unmarked from a Gylfi Sigurdsson free-kick, but he could only head straight into the turf from 10-yards out and harmlessly into Neil Etherdige’s arms.
Sigurdsson must have thought he had broken the deadlock after 54 minutes after rounding Etheridge, but his goalbound shot was cleared off the line by Bamba.
But the Icelandic star got his goal just five minutes later.
After being released down the right Walcott drove into the box and saw his shot saved by Etheridge.
But it fell into the path of Sigurdsson to poke home into an empty net for the decisive goal.
Cardiff picked things up after falling behind and Spaniard Victor Camarasa forced a smart save from Jordan Pickford from distance.
Despite the endeavour the Bluebirds lacked the quality in the final third to fashion a genuine chance and grab a late equaliser.
And Everton, via sub Ademola Lookman, should have doubled their lead but were denied by a great point-blank save by Etheridge.
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