Malbranque gave Sunderland the lead after 10 minutes. The Frenchman was found in good space by Danny Collins 20 yards from goal and he calmly picked his spot and clipped a sweet shot over Boaz Myhill.
But Hull showed more of the resilience that continues to serve them so well in their remarkable maiden top-flight campaign and were level eight minutes later.
It came from a long Myhill ball with Michael Turner getting forward to reach a Kamil Zayatte flick-on and shoot at Marton Fulop. The goalkeeper saved from point-blank range but Nick Barmby was lurking in the area and blasted home in the ensuing goalmouth scramble.
However, Sunderland finished strongly. Firstly Kieran Richardson got lucky when his 78th-minute shot hit Zayatte and wrong-footed Myhill.
Things got worse for Hull three minutes later as Sam Ricketts, having just been booked for a foul on Malbranque, was given a second yellow card for a poor challenge on Phil Bardsley.
Sunderland took advantage of their numerical advantage and killed off the game six minutes from time when Malbranque crossed and Jones headed home from close range.
There was still time for more as Cisse broke clear in injury-time and shot low past Myhill.