A goal in the 90th minute by Gavin Gordon rescued a point for the promotion-chasing Bluebirds after Barnsley had looked like gaining a shock success.
The cash-strapped visitors went ahead in the 51st minute when referee Fraser Streeton pointed to the spot after Jason Bowen had handled.
Bruce Dyer gave the Tykes the lead with what turned out to be their only shot on target.
Cardiff rarely showed their promotion credentials against a side whose uncompromising tactics had already proved successful in the earlier meeting which they won 3-2.
"The players are devastated and we felt a few decisions went against us but we will settle for a point," said Barnsley manager Glyn Hodges.
"I thought it was definitely a penalty as the ball hit his hand and felt we should have had another one when Dyer was pulled back.
“You don’t get much out of Cardiff or the officials when you play at Ninian Park.
“But if we carry on like that in our remaining games we will have a good chance of staying up.†City’s goalscoring hero Gordon was delighted that he was on hand to net the vital goal.
"They are fighting for their lives and defended deeper and deeper as the game went on,†he said.
“It was very good on a personal note to score and as some of the results went our way it was not too bad, but we need to hit the net when we are on top." Under-pressure Bluebirds manager Lennie Lawrence was very relieved to get that equaliser.
"We lacked quality in and around the box and failed to create any clear-cut chances,†he said.
“I accept that penalty decision as I think it was a penalty but we had plenty of chances to clear the ball.
“We have a quality side and have made scoring opportunities in our last few games but today we just couldn’t do that and around their penalty area we were very poor.
“Gordon’s goal should have been the winner and another promotion-chasing team would have achieved that. It seems that every time we make a mistake we are penalised.
“We are a nearly team both in our own box and in the opposition area. I am pleased to say we kept going to the end and grabbed the equaliser after almost shooting ourselves in the foot.
“We gifted them their goal and must remove that type of thing from our game but at least we have ended up with a point.â€