Database config in xml file

I need to create DB config file in xml for connecting with db in php application. And I create something like this

<?xml version="1.0"?>
    <connection>
        <host>localhost</host>
        <user>antin</user>
        <password>password</password>
        <dbase>database</dbase>
    </connection>

Then I can get host, user, password and dbase using SimpleXML. But I think that it isn't unsafe because everyone can parse this file. I think that that xml file have to be something like:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
    <connection>
        <host><![CDATA[localhost]]></host>
        <user><![CDATA[antin]]></user>
        <password><![CDATA[password]]></password>
        <dbase><![CDATA[database]]></dbase>
    </connection>

Can you help me to understand the right way for creation xml config file and getting connection info? Thanks!