It's a regression, which wasn't noticed until now. I'll fix the bug in the next release (it should be easy), but you could just ask me about such behavior by email or on one of bug trackers.
Here is something you can try to use for now (put it to your ~/.vifm/vifmrc
file):
nnoremap l : if filetype('.') == 'reg'
\| edit
\| else
\| execute 'normal! l'
\| endif<cr>
nmap <cr> l
nmap <right> l
But this won't run programs, associated with files.