Ched Evans's 88th-minute strike denied Cardiff the chance to move into the play-off places as Norwich leapfrogged them in the table with a fine victory.
The 19-year-old, on loan from Manchester City, strode unopposed from the halfway line before unleashing a venomous shot into the top corner.
It was a deserved winner for the visitors, who took the lead when Evans finished well after a good break.
Gavin Rae levelled from 12 yards but Cardiff could not hold on.
Cardiff boss Dave Jones:
"It was frustrating because we wanted to play free flowing football but they were not going to allow that but they worked really hard and are a good team.
"Two well balanced teams looked like they'd cancelled each other out. Unfortunately for us they are the ones that have come away with the victory."
Norwich boss Glenn Roeder on Ched Evans' 88th minute winner:
"When the ball came to Ched I wanted him to take the ball into the corner but he decided to put it in the back of the net!
"It was one of the best goals I have seen in years and it was no fluke.
"Ched regularly hits them like that in training, he's got a great shot on him."
Cardiff: Oakes, McNaughton, Johnson, Loovens, Capaldi, Whittingham, Rae, McPhail, Ledley, Parry, Hasselbaink (Thompson 80).
Subs Not Used: Enckelman, Purse, Blake, Ramsey.
Goals: Rae 45.
Norwich: Marshall, Bates, Shackell, Doherty, Camara, Croft (Huckerby 70), Russell, Fotheringham, Bertrand (Pattison 83), Dublin, Evans.
Subs Not Used: Gilks, Otsemobor, Pearce.
Booked: Bates, Evans.
Goals: Evans 15, 88.
Att: 11,937
Ref: Richard Beeby (Northamptonshire).
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